Mobile Architectural Office aimed to demonstrate the future of low-carbon urban housing architecture, redefining how contemporary buildings can balance material sustainability, contextual aesthetics, and livability, through their latest project – Pradrier 15. According to the architects, the main challenge of the site was to establish urban continuity at the corner of an intersection. The street-facing façade naturally extends the Haussmannian building on the corner, harmonizing with both the rhythm of Boulevard de la Villette and Rue Pradier. Viewed from the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, the building emerges as a key feature in the urban landscape, asserting its role in the perception of the whole.

The choice of materials and their implementation reflects a contextual approach. The cut stone from the Paris Basin (Noyant stone) becomes a structural element of the project, creating a direct link with the existing built environment while favoring a low-carbon, local supply chain. On the courtyard side, the timber frame and hemp concrete reinterpret traditional construction techniques. These choices go beyond a mere historical reference and embody a thoughtful approach where durability, construction coherence, and resource efficiency guide the design.

The façade, clad in solid stone on the street side and lime render on the garden side, combined with hemp concrete insulation, forms a breathable envelope that actively contributes to the building’s and apartments’ thermal comfort. These natural materials, known for their vapor-permeable properties, promote the regulation of heat and moisture exchange between the interior and exterior, allowing humidity to escape while minimizing temperature fluctuations. The work on the Noyant stone, with its angles and cornices, emphasizes the effect of a thick façade that shifts with the daylight. Large wooden joinery, wooden shutters, and detailed metalwork give the whole its domestic and urban character.