Cosmopoly residence in prime position overlooking the lush Lironde park

In the urban development of Eureka, southwest of the Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole conurbation, the development of plots previously composed of abandoned agricultural land is an opportunity to redefine the boundary between the urbanized environment and the natural one, particularly with the project of Lot 20, Cosmopoly, right at the forefront of the park

Landscape continuity: from the park to the courtyard

The TAA studio designs the Cosmopoly residential block while maintaining the focus of the Lironde redevelopment plan, which aims to recreate ecological corridors for the free movement of species and strengthen the ecosystem's resilience affected by habitat fragmentation due to climate change. The lot 20, where Cosmopoly is located, is in a crucial point between natural areas and urban development: in the project, the courtyard is created with the perspective of landscape continuity between the park and the new neighborhood, featuring vegetable garden lines, vines, and a small orchard

High-quality and easily habitable spaces

As would be optimal in this type of architectural projects, the goal for Cosmopoly is to create an elegant building harmoniously integrated into the landscape. The structural grid of the building is expressed in different ways on the facade: it is cut out to form loggias protected from the sun and prying views, or punctuated by windows and French doors, or even completely filled with structured panels. This gives rhythm and depth to the facades and opens the private living spaces to the landscape while protecting their intimacy. The light and elegant architectural design creates high-quality and easily habitable spaces

The three macro-levels of the project and the finishes

The project features three levels: the base, the main volume, and the attic. The base is made of white cement bricks, both in the opaque sections of the walls and as perforated brick walls on the parapets of the first floor. The opaque sections filling the structural grid on the ground floor are differentiated by the use of structured white cement. The main volumes are detached from the base by a continuous recess on the first floor. On these volumes, the main structure is expressed in white concrete while the metal railings are finished with a white powder coating. The upper floor, set back from the main facade, features a cladding of symmetrical square waves in natural aluminum

Common Spaces and Lighting

The buildings on the park side, as well as the two buildings along the north and south edges of the lot, are accessible through the inner courtyard which is intended to be a shared garden promoting a sense of community, where social events can also be organized. Strategically, a versatile common room overlooks this space with large windows.
Like the rest of the project, the lighting is designed with an integration logic with the context, therefore gently marking the paths and entrances without invading the natural darkness of the park

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Taillandier Architectes Associés - TAA

42 Rue de Cugnaux, 31300 Toulouse, France 8 Rue des Tanneries, 75013 Paris, France