Atelier Philéas, architecture based on intuition

The name Philéas, of Greek origin, was chosen for the most Parisian of architectural firms: Atelier Philéas. Atelier Philéas was founded in 1993 and is run by Anne-Charlotte Zanassi and Dominique Vitti. Their signature style? Architecture based on intuition, rooted in its context and forging an unbreakable bond with people.

Atelier Philéas is located at 89 Rue de Reuilly, at the end of a typical cul-de-sac in Paris's 12th arrondissement. It is a distinctive two-storey space where around twenty employees work on a wide variety of projects. Unlike some architecture firms, Atelier Philéas is constantly evolving. This evolution is mainly due to the curiosity that drives the founding duo. This is evidenced by a multitude of complex projects, including housing, commercial buildings, various facilities, crematoriums, data centres and major interventions on heritage and listed buildings. In short, a large number of projects have been completed and continue to fuel the agency's current activities. The latest development? The creation, in collaboration with other architects from May Was, of a company specialising in virtual reality which, thanks to a video game controller or VR headset, offers an immersive architectural experience to anyone who requests it. Over time, the architects at Atelier Philéas have demonstrated their versatility while remaining true to their core values. Let's take a look at some of their most iconic projects, which combine several themes.

Social innovation

Inventiveness has always been an important part of Atelier Philéas' approach, which thrives on challenges. This is especially true when it comes to projects directly related to the well-being of residents, such as the construction of housing. In Villejuif, a suburb of Paris in the Val-de-Marne department, the architects have designed a student residence comprising 752 housing units, intended to accommodate students and young professionals (such as seasonal workers and interns, this is a residence that addresses the lack of short-term housing), as well as university researchers. Built on a brownfield site, the dwellings are located on a very generous active base with a transparent facade, where all the residents' needs are grouped together. This creates a certain porosity between the heart of the block and the city. The complex, consisting of five buildings, is crossed by a winding, vegetated fault line that becomes a pleasant garden. This connects the surrounding urban nodes (urban fabric, roundabout interchange, etcetera).

The architects opted for fragmentation, which brings breathing space to the block and softens the densification. Vegetation covers 67% of the plot, reflecting a commitment to a virtuous city. A champagne-gold metal mesh supports the green spaces while creating an attractive play of light and shadow on the facade.

Another housing project is located in Ris-Orangis, a commune in the Essonne department in the Île-de-France region of northern France, where Atelier Philéas has created a mixed-use development consisting of social housing, shops and a crèche. The architects have built comfortable, bright homes with outdoor spaces and double-height entrance halls. The complexity of the budget became a challenge that prompted the architects to come up with several clever solutions, such as balconies enclosed by white metal mesh. This mesh acts as a guardrail and is protected by fixed sunshades. The)/*742 design provides privacy for the balconies, while allowing light to enter the living areas. The facades are understated, creating a functional complex.

New uses

Atelier Philéas is passionate about the transformation of buildings that contribute to the city's development. It undertook the renovation and conversion of the Télécom Paristech block in Palaiseau (Ed.: commune in the southern suburbs of Paris), originally used for teaching and research, into housing. This complex programme includes 95 social housing units, including 10 artists' studios (building C) and 25 intermediate family housing units (22 in building A and 3 in building C), as well as the redevelopment of the walkways and the addition of green spaces, the creation of a biodiversity reservoir (building A) and a space dedicated to urban agriculture (building C). This is a site that has undergone many changes in the past, which needed to be harmonised without distorting the spirit of the existing structure. In addition to creating unique and unusual housing due to the constraints of the existing structure, particular attention was paid to the outdoor spaces with the creation of a garden in place of a car park. Accustomed to integrating works of art into their projects, Philéas proposed the creation of frescoes on the north-west and south gables of building C. While Jef Aerosol's fresco evokes a poem by Baudelaire, David De la Mano's fresco deals with the place of women in society.

It is a successful operation despite its scale. It should be noted that two other agencies worked jointly on the project to transform the former Télécom Paristech site and shared the renovation of the six buildings with Atelier Philéas. These were the architectural agencies ITAR architectures and Savoir-Fair.

Since its inception, Atelier Philéas has enjoyed collaborative work. Let's not forget that the founding duo were part of the former Collectif Plan01 and the Collectif French Touch. Driven by this desire, Atelier Philéas collaborated with AIA Life Designers to carry out the renovation and extension of the headquarters of the Regional and Interdepartmental Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Transport (Direction Régionale et Interdépartementale de l’Environnement, de l’Aménagement et des Transports, DRIEAT). Located in the heart of Paris's 15th arrondissement, the four-building administrative complex, built in the 1970s, had become obsolete in terms of its architecture, its uses and also from an environmental point of view. This is a subject dear to architects, who place great importance on the economy of materials and energy performance.

In a dense urban context, the reduction of parking spaces and the increase in planted areas were the starting point for the redevelopment of existing facilities and new extensions in response to a demand for additional space. This operation can be likened to urban ‘sewing’. As sophisticated as it is thoughtful, it contributes to the transformation of a place in accordance with the various principles of sustainable development and climate resilience. This major restructuring gives new life to ageing facilities, while maintaining consultation with local residents and the project owner.

The same principle has been applied in another project that is currently underway. This involves the renovation and extension of the French Biodiversity Office (Office Français de la Biodiversité, OFB). The facility is located on the historic site of the National Geographic Institute (Institut Géographique National, IGN) in Saint-Mandé (Ed.: a suburb situated just east of Paris, bordering the 12th arrondissement and the Bois de Vincennes). The project aims to achieve harmonious urban integration and environmentally friendly architecture. It emphasises the integration of biodiversity, in particular through green spaces and an innovative ‘biodiversity wall’. This wall is special in itself. Composed of a brickwork pattern featuring gaps, irregularities and cavities, lined with a continuous network of internal organic substrate, it is home to a wide variety of plants that emerge through the cracks in the brick wall. Extensive studies and in-depth research guarantee its longevity. It is a joyful symbol for the OFB.

Ethics and development

Atelier Philéas carries out unusual projects that meet real requirements. The construction and maintenance of a crematorium near the Roumiguières cemetery for the municipality of Grasse (Ed.: Grasse is a commune in southeastern France on the French Riviera. It is recognized worldwide as the capital of flowers and perfumes) is one such project. According to the architects, the project had to possess essential qualities such as simplicity, sobriety and clarity in order to offer a dignified and peaceful setting. As a result, it was decided to opt for a two-storey cylindrical structure made of concrete from the site, which forges a strong link with its green surroundings.

The architects also carried out another similar project, but with a different approach, for the municipality of Cormeilles-en-Parisis, a commune in the Val-d'Oise department of the Île-de-France region, located in the suburbs of Paris. The architects were aware that few projects carry as much emotion and human and cultural richness, so they proposed an architecture based on the theme of the circle, a timeless and universal symbol. Thanks to mirror-polished stainless steel cladding, the two buildings blend skilfully into their surroundings. The play of reflections on the facade reflects the green landscape and the colours of the sky according to the seasons and the time of day. Inside, the ceremonial halls, designed as vast spaces that highlight the symbolism of gathering, form large, bright and intimate volumes. Whether in the overall composition or the acoustic treatment, every detail has been carefully refined to meet the needs for intimacy and contemplation that such a place requires. This was a delicate exercise that puts architecture at the service of people.

Intervention on heritage

Atelier Philéas has several scenographic achievements that are the pride of the agency. Recently, it was commissioned for a sensitive intervention within the Palais de la Découverte (Ed.: the Palace of Discovery, a science museum in Paris located within the Grand Palais). The project is part of the architectural composition of the Palais d'Antin, the west wing of the Grand Palais, which has housed the Palais de la Découverte since 1937. In addition to respecting the existing heritage, the project meets the environmental ambitions of Universcience through eco-design and reuse. The architects are currently working on the renovation of the Palais du Tau for the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, the National Monuments Centre, programmed by AG studio, in parallel with the work on the historic building led by Marie-Suzanne de Ponthaud, chief architect of Historic Monuments.
Since its creation, Atelier Philéas has been looking to the future. What will the founders be doing in ten years' time?

“Our next ten years have already begun. In architecture, we work over the long term. We want to remain as curious as ever and continue to be a key player in regenerative architecture. That is to say, architecture that is not content with being carbon neutral, but actively restores ecosystems and strengthens the resilience of cities in the face of global warming. Our driving force is and will remain the benevolent transformation of the world and architecture as a pillar of major urban and social challenges. We are already invested in the AI revolution, particularly in its ability to test and simulate the environmental and social impact of projects. Above all, we want to use this tool to combine efficiency with the beauty and humanism that are at the heart of our vocation as architects," replies Anne-Charlotte Zanassi with fervour and conviction, as she and Dominique Vitti face the various changes in the architectural profession.