Could something as simple of the material selected for a residential tower prove the "antidote to suburban blandness"? A Parisian suburb thinks so.
Peter Smisek writes about the efforts of architect Maison Edouard François to overcome "suburban blandness" in the Parisian suburb of Ros-Orangis. The municipality appointed François to design a new neighborhood, which recently opened its first tower block.
The "antidote to suburban blandness" selected by Maison Edouard François is simple: the material of the tower's façade. "The large volume, the size of which reflects the large-scale housing estate nearby, is covered in orange terracotta tiles, giving the building an unexpected texture, along with a bright orange colour. Inside, the building accommodates 60 dwellings, ranging from small, one-bedroom apartments to large maisonettes at the top," writes Smisek in describing the experiment.
Read the full story: The Orange of Ris by Maison Edouard François
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Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
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University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
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