Leave it to Paris to have some awesome social housing. This building is part of the redevelopment of a northern district in Paris, and from the looks of the building, the area is on the right track. Many new offices, public facilities, and educational buildings have risen and are planned right next to the housing. There is also a new tram way under construction that will soon be servicing residents.

The project area is well over 79,000 square feet. The building rises 10 storeys and contains retail space and offices on the first couple floors. It is not very often that we see social housing showcasing such a contemporary design. Designed by Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes, the building is divided into cubic areas, with facades comprised mostly of reflective panelling and glass. The entire building is punctuated by windows and accented by protruding balconies. The roof is equipped with solar panels that provide hot water for all of the residents, and there is a two-storey underground parking garage with 78 spaces and a large area for bicycle storage.

Units range from studios to 4/5-bedroom layouts, each with access to its own balcony, roof top terrace, or an expansive loggia (roughly 100 square feet). The units also have large windows, some floor-to-ceiling, to allow an abundance of natural light to fill the living areas and make them appear even more spacious than they already are. The units are designed to be resized and combined in order to accommodate any special uses that may be necessary in the future.

It is very interesting to see social housing of this caliber. In Toronto, a design such as this would be saved for a luxury condominium development, planned for a popular downtown district. As you may know, Toronto has its fair share of social housing, but not many that match this one. Although, there is one social housing project in Toronto that went up a couple years ago that is worth noting: Stephen Teeple’s 60 Richmond St. In fact, it is the recipient of the 2011 Toronto Urban Design Award.

There are constant debates concerning the amount of money that the city uses for social housing. Some say too little, some say too much. Is it possible to have beautiful social housing without breaking the bank?

Would you like to see social housing designs in Toronto matching the caliber of these two?

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