© Philippe Ruault
Since 2015 an apartment house erected using a modular timber construction system has augmented the buildings on the Place des Papyrus in the north of Toulouse. The 50 simple apartments provide economical living space in the city and are intended to facilitate the integration of disadvantaged population groups. The trapezoidal site is flanked to the south and west by housing blocks.
To achieve the best possible compromise between the demands of privacy and orientation the dwelling units are organised in groups that are shifted in relation to each other with the units facing in different directions, which creates a compact, staggered volume. The access corridor makes a number of bends; at places it runs along an outside wall which allows the entry of daylight. By omitting four modules on the ground floor a covered entrance area could be created.
To achieve the best possible compromise between the demands of privacy and orientation the dwelling units are organised in groups that are shifted in relation to each other with the units facing in different directions, which creates a compact, staggered volume. The access corridor makes a number of bends; at places it runs along an outside wall which allows the entry of daylight. By omitting four modules on the ground floor a covered entrance area could be created.