This student housing building in Paris by Slovenian studio OFIS Arhitekti was designed to resembled a stack of wooden baskets.

"Our concept was of spinning and rotating baskets," architect Rok Oman told Dezeen, before explaining how he wanted to avoid creating a "predefined" linear building.

Located between a football pitch and a tram route, Basket Apartments comprises two ten-storey blocks and every 'basket' is a cluster of rooms that each have their own private balconies.

Despite the irregular facade, each study bedroom is exactly the same size and has an identical layout.

Open-air corridors run along the rear elevation of the building and are contained behind a tessellated mesh screen. The architects explain how they intended these galleries as an "open common space for students".

A bridge connects the two blocks at second floor level and oversails a small garden in the space between.

Other projects we've featured by OFIS Arhitekti include a scaly apartment block and an apartment with staggered floors.

See all our stories about OFIS Arhitekti »

Photography is by Tomaz Gregoric.

Here's some extra information from OFIS Arhitekti:

Basket Apartments in Paris

Urban plan conditions

The project is located on a long and very narrow site, on the edge of Parc La Vilette in Paris’s 19th district, within an urban development done by Reichen & Robert architects.

On the northeast, new Paris tram route is passing along the site. The site is bordering with tram garage on the southwest, above which is a football field. The first 3 floors of the housing will inevitably share the wall with the tram garage.

Site plan conditions

The parcel has a very particular configuration; 11m in width and extending approximately 200m north-south.

This foreshadows the importance of processing the eastern facade overlooking the extension of the street Des Petits Ponts which hosts the tram and both cyclist and pedestrian walkways.

New Plot

The long volume of the building is divided into two parts connected with a narrow bridge. Between two volumes there is a garden.

The building has 11 floors: a technical space in the basement, shared programs in the ground floor, and student apartments in the upper nine floors. The layout is very rational and modular.

Program - student dormitory with 192 studios

The major objective of the project was to provide students with a healthy environment for studying, learning and meeting. Along the length of the football field is an open corridor and gallery that overlooks the field and creates a view to the city and the Eiffel tower.

This gallery is an access to the apartments providing students with a common place. All the studios are the same size and contain the same elements to optimize design and construction: an entrance, bathroom, wardrobe, kitchenette, working space and a bed. Each apartment has a balcony overlooking the street.

Design concept

Narrow length of the plot with 10 floors gives to site a significant presence. Each volume contains two different faces according to the function and program:

The elevation towards the street des Petits Ponts contains studio balconies-baskets of different sizes made from HPL timber stripes. They are randomly oriented to diversify the views and rhythm of the façade.

Shifted baskets create a dynamic surface while also breaking down the scale and proportion of the building.

The elevation towards the football field has an open passage walkway with studio entrances enclosed with a 3D metal mesh. Both volumes are connected on the first floor with a narrow bridge which is also an open common space for students.

Plans 1-5 - click above for larger image

Sustainable efficiency

The building is energy efficient to accommodate the desires of Paris' sustainable development efforts. The Plan Climates goal is that future housing will consume 50KW-h.m.² or less. The objectives of energy performance and the construction timetable were met by focusing on a simple, well insulated and ventilated object that functions at its best year round.

Plans 6-10 - click above for larger image

Accommodations are cross ventilating and allow abundant day lighting throughout the apartment. External corridors and glass staircases also promote natural lighting in the common circulation, affording energy while also creating comfortable and well lit social spaces. The building is insulated from the outside with an insulation thickness of 20 cm. Thermal bridge breakers are used on corridor floors and balconies to avoid thermal bridges.

Section - click above for larger image

Ventilation is controlled by double flow mechanical ventilation, providing clean air in every apartment with an optimum temperature throughout the year. The incoming air also reuses heat from the exhaust air. The roof is covered with 300m² of photovoltaic panels to generate electricity. Rainwater is harvested on site in a basin pool used for watering outdoor green spaces.

Front elevation - click above for larger image

Status:
Invited competition: 2008
Construction start: 2009
Completion: 2012

Rear elevation

Location: 19th district, Paris, France
Program: (student) apartment studios, common spaces, dining area, living space, storage
Details: low energy consumption building, 10 floor building with 192 studios
Type: student housing
Client: Regie Immobiliere de la Ville de Paris

Concept drawing

Area: site 1981 m2; size of studios 35 m2; building 931 m2; gross floor area 8500 m2; landscape 1050 m2
Dimensions: 29,20 m max height
Budget: 17.5 M €
Materials: concrete, glass, metal, plaster, high-density stratified timber panels, expanded metal mesh

Standard room plan

Project team:
Rok Oman, Spela Videcnik
Robert Janez, Janez Martincic, Andrej Gregoric, Janja del Linz, Louis Geiswiller, Hyunggyu Kim, Chaewan Shin, Jaehyun Kim, Erin Durno, Javier Carrera, Giuliana Fimmano, Jolien Maes, Lin Wei

Standard room section

Technical team:
Structural engineering: INTEGRALE 4; Bruno PERSON
Mechanical & electrical engineering, sustainable development: Cabinet MTC; Cyril GANVERT