Emblem | Hamonic+Masson & Associés

At the confluence of road and rail infrastructures and Parc Matisse, this strategic location serves as a new gateway to the city of Lille. As a true synthesis project, the building is rooted in the site and invents a new urban form that supports a diverse range of typologies and programs, in line with the city’s ambitions.

This is a convergence project. It is not about standing out through difference or provocation, but about dialogue and connection to invent.

Whether working or living here, the building serves as a pedagogical observatory because living here means understanding and learning about the city around us.

Volumetry

The project is distinguished by a defined base that hosts two prominent structures, creating an open framework that connects seamlessly with the surrounding park. The building’s volumes ensure a harmonious transition in scale from the Matisse gardens, peaking at 27 meters, to the expected majestic height on the Pasteur roundabout side. This gradation in structure optimizes light, views, and sunlight on all floors of the project.

From Pasteur intersection, the building presents itself on a grand scale, playing with bold perspectives. The stepped office base integrates into the surrounding landscape, contributing to the introduction of a biotope at the building scale, thus creating an ecological and attractive environment.

The project reflects an image that meets the challenges, with a custom, ambitious, coherent, and identifiable design that is not ostentatious.

Due to its scale and meticulous design, it becomes a new dynamic and vibrant landmark for the city, combining architectural innovation with environmental respect.

Programmatic dialogue

The building’s morphology, with its curves, complements the organic nature of various flow systems (pedestrian, bicycle, car, bus, tram, and train) and the park. It is a structure that fosters local connectivity. The two emergent sections play with subtle horizontal lines of varying thicknesses.

The project includes 17,000 m2 of floor area, divided into 9,000 m2 of offices and 8,000 m2 of housing. An underground parking facility spans three levels.

The offices are arranged as a two-floor base around a patio, with an eight-floor plus mezzanine section on the southern boundary. The housing is located in a tower at the north end of the site, from the third to the seventeenth floor, staying within the 50-meter height limit for high-rise buildings.

Materiality

The mainly glass facade of the offices is accentuated by a fine marking of the slabs, which complements the building’s gentle curves. The reflections on the glass surfaces play with the sky.

The facade of the residential units stands out against the sky, featuring continuous balconies. The use of perforated metal and screens highlights the building’s curves. We have chosen an earthy color that draws its roots from the park. This natural shade echoes the architectural history of Lille.

Photography: Guillaume Cortade et Clément Bonnérat