At 29 Rue Nollet in Paris’s 17th arrondissement, RIVP and NZI Architectes will complete the conversion of a parking garage into a social housing complex with 83 units in December 2025.
Located at the corner of Nollet and de la Condamine streets, the highly enclosed site consisted of a four-story street-level parking garage built above the ground floor and a main building in the center of the block, dating from the 1930s.
The demolition of the central building freed up the center of the block, brought direct sunlight to the new apartments, and provided neighbors with unobstructed views.
The demolition of the central building freed up the center of the block, brought direct sunlight to the new apartments, and provided neighbors with unobstructed views.
The garage structures and metal trusses were retained, thus preserving the site’s heritage. The two building sections adhere to the structural logic of the existing structure. These two new volumes, separated by more than 14 meters and overlooking the new garden in the center of the block, offer a high standard of living comfort.
The entrances to the residential units and the commercial space, located on Nollet Street, are clearly separated. The building’s entrance hall, which extends all the way to the center of the block, reveals the depth of the lot from the street. All common areas—the recreation room, bicycle storage, laundry room, staff offices, etc.—are arranged around the central garden on the ground floor. Each building is served by a bright stairwell and an elevator. All circulation areas are naturally lit. The residential units are simple, bright, and oriented east/west with views of the courtyard. No units face north. The existing basement, located beneath the street-facing building, has been renovated and now houses mechanical rooms, storage areas, and locker rooms.
The entrances to the residential units and the commercial space, located on Nollet Street, are clearly separated. The building’s entrance hall, which extends all the way to the center of the block, reveals the depth of the lot from the street. All common areas—the recreation room, bicycle storage, laundry room, staff offices, etc.—are arranged around the central garden on the ground floor. Each building is served by a bright stairwell and an elevator. All circulation areas are naturally lit. The residential units are simple, bright, and oriented east/west with views of the courtyard. No units face north. The existing basement, located beneath the street-facing building, has been renovated and now houses mechanical rooms, storage areas, and locker rooms.
The roof of the staff offices and shared spaces (laundry room, lounge, and communal kitchen) features a green roof with 30 cm of soil. The courtyard garden is generously planted directly in the ground. The benches and landscaped bike racks, bordered by a landscaped path made of exposed aggregate concrete, are designed to encourage interaction among residents.
The building roofs have been renovated, and the tiles replaced with standing seam steel panels. On the street side, the building was rehabilitated by filling prefabricated wood-frame walls with bio-based wood wool insulation. The project employs a rapid construction technique—part of the dry, eco-friendly construction sector—that offers the advantage of being lightweight. The prefabrication of the panels allows for a dry construction site, making maintenance and cleaning easier. Since the prefabrication process takes place off-site, noisy construction activities are greatly reduced, resulting in a positive impact for nearby residents.
The building roofs have been renovated, and the tiles replaced with standing seam steel panels. On the street side, the building was rehabilitated by filling prefabricated wood-frame walls with bio-based wood wool insulation. The project employs a rapid construction technique—part of the dry, eco-friendly construction sector—that offers the advantage of being lightweight. The prefabrication of the panels allows for a dry construction site, making maintenance and cleaning easier. Since the prefabrication process takes place off-site, noisy construction activities are greatly reduced, resulting in a positive impact for nearby residents.
