Îlot des Hautes-Formes, Residential building complex in 13th arrondissement, France
The Îlot des Hautes-Formes is a residential complex made of six reinforced concrete buildings connected by arches with varying heights. The structures form an open interior space and feature numerous oversized windows arranged in unexpected geometric patterns.
The complex was built in 1979 as a response to problems with high-rise housing estates that had dominated Paris previously. The project marked a turning point in the city's social housing approach through its new spatial design.
The varied window shapes and heights across the facades give each unit its own visual identity within the complex. The spaces between buildings create natural gathering points where residents encounter one another in their daily routines.
The site is easily accessible on foot and located in a densely built area of the 13th arrondissement. Visitors can freely explore the interior courtyard and outdoor areas while viewing the architecture from multiple angles.
Some of the windows are so large that they span across two apartments, flooding the interior with natural light. This unusual detail shows how the architects treated brightness as a central element of their design.
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