Archinect - News

Sou Fujimoto's eye-catching apartment tower, L'Arbre Blanc, is a cantilevered spectacle

2019-06-21T20:51:00-04:00

When the project was first announced in 2014, many waited in anticipation as renderings of L'Arbre Blanc tower surfaced. The 17-story tower is said to be modeled after the shape of a tree with balconies 'branching out' from the cylindrical shaped building. Located in Montpellier, France, Sou Fujimoto was joined by Nicolas Laisné, Dimitri Roussel, and OXO Architectes to complete the project.

L'Arbre Blanc by Sou Fujimoto in collaboration with Nicolas Laisné, Dimitri Roussel and OXO Architectes. Image © Cyrille Weiner

With the 113 apartment tower fully constructed, it has stayed true to its renderings. According to the project's press release, Fujimoto and his team aimed at recreating the idea of a tower while paying attention to the local lifestyles of the people of Montpellier. The eye-catching details of the cantilevered balconies help create a changing perspective depending on the viewer's angle, sun positioning, and viewpoint. The cantilevered balconies not only aide in the visu...

A look at Sou Fujimoto's proposed sustainable, timber-frame tower

2016-03-30T13:56:00-04:00

In collaboration with Laisné Roussel and developer Pitch Promotion, Sou Fujimoto's proposed 50-meter tall mixed-use timber-frame structure Canopia would be the tallest of its kind if built. Riffing a bit off the swirling form of Fujimoto's Abre Blanc apartment building, the proposed structure includes 199 residential units, over 3,700 square meters of commercial offices, a panoramic bar and roof gardens, and 500 square meters of retail space.

In addition to being a part of the phase two development of the Amargnac sector of the Bordeaux Saint-Jean Belcier ZAC (urban development zone), Canopia is designed to be environmentally sustainable. Aside from attempting to achieve "Biosource" certification by using cross-laminated spruce or silver fur timber for the flooring and beams, sustainability is partly achieved by the rooftop gardens, which are connected by raised walkways and allow residents to wander among fruit trees, water reservoirs, and vegetable gardens before hitting the bar/re...

Winning team chosen to build 2nd “Architectural Folie of the 21st century” in Montpellier

2014-03-06T21:22:00-05:00

The "folie" continues with the winning team that will build a new "Architectural Folie of the 21st Century" for Montpellier, France. The team -- which includes Sou Fujimoto Architects, Nicolas Laisné Associates, and Manal Rachdi Oxo Architects as the architects -- won the closed competition with their project, "Arbre Blanc" (White Tree), a 10,000 m² mixed-use tower...

Drawings:

Find out more on Bustler.

Copyright image + plans + documents: SOU FUJIMOTO ARCHITECTS + NICOLAS LAISNE ASSOCIES + MANAL RACHDI OXO ARCHITECTS + FRANCK BOUTTE CONSULTANTS + Rendering by RSI-STUDIO

Taichung City Cultural Center Entry by OXO Architects + Nicolas Laisné Architecte Urbaniste

2013-07-11T14:52:00-04:00

French firms OXO architects and Nicolas Laisné Architecte Urbaniste have sent us "TCC Garden," the team's joint entry to the Taichung City Cultural Center competition in Taiwan

To see more Taichung City Cultural Center entries, click here.