The Arches Boulogne complex, designed by the Parisian studio Antonini Darmon, includes 33 housing blocks and is a seven-storey building with an irregular pentagonal shape. Its main architectural feature is the arcades surrounding each floor, which consist of arches of different widths.
A kind of “lace” façade forms compact balconies, or terraces, which allow residents to spend time outdoors in close proximity to their own apartments.
The aesthetics of the property are a reference to the Roman Colosseum, as well as its modern version, the Palace of Italian Civilization, better known as the “square Colosseum. The latter was built in the 1940s on the orders of Benito Mussolini.
What do you think about this approach to building affordable housing?
What are some key design strategies employed by Antonini Darmon in their approach to affordable housing that set them apart from other architects?