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Farshid Moussavi’s curvaceous La Folie Divine tower nears completion in Montpellier

France Architecture News - Feb 01, 2017 - 17:53   30315 views

Farshid Moussavi’s curvaceous La Folie Divine tower nears completion in Montpellier

A series of irregular floor plates are stacked on top of one another to position the balconies of each unit differently and separate neighbouring units directly above and below, featured in La Folie Divine tower by Farshid Moussavi's firm FMA-Farshid Moussavi Architecture-the building finally nears completion as the FMA continues to share the construction images of the building.

Located on the skirts of the Montpellier, France, La Folie Divine is comprised of twelve follies and referencing to the continuation of the tradition of innovative architecture of the 20th century of the city, when local aristocrats and bourgeoisie commissioned architects to build a number of elegant homes, les Folies Montpellieraines, on the outskirts of the city.

Farshid Moussavi’s curvaceous La Folie Divine tower nears completion in Montpellier

These buildings, including the castles of Flaugergues, de la Mogere and de la Mosson, are still an integral part of the city’s architectural identity. La Folie Divine is located on Ilot m2 within Les Jardins de la Lironde - an urban development area on the periphery of Montpellier designed by Christian de Portzamparc. 

Farshid Moussavi’s curvaceous La Folie Divine tower nears completion in Montpellier

The building is designed as a nine storey reaching 34-metre tower and accommodates thirty-six apartments and a small restaurant on the ground floor. The building’s small footprint minimises use of the existing site and liberates ground for a garden around the building. 

The apartments are distributed along the section of the tower on one of two typical floor plates that have different curvilinear shapes.

Farshid Moussavi’s curvaceous La Folie Divine tower nears completion in Montpellier

''The shape of each floor is designed in such a way that the balconies of each unit are hidden from views of those of neighbouring units without the introduction of balcony dividing walls'', said the FMA.

''Each of the two typical floor plates is divided into four corner residential units, located around a central core, which are dual aspect and benefit from multiple views of the exterior and natural cross ventilation''.

Farshid Moussavi’s curvaceous La Folie Divine tower nears completion in Montpellier

This arrangement provides the units with the least possible internal shared circulation space when compared to a residential slab or block, and therefore the maximum amount of privacy.

The irregular arrangement of the floors creates two types of balconies on each floor: a single height balcony which is covered by the floor above it, and a double height balcony which is covered by a floor two floors above. This reduces downward overlooking as it creates more distance between the balconies along the height of the building, as the balcony seen diagonally from above is always two floors down. 

Farshid Moussavi’s curvaceous La Folie Divine tower nears completion in Montpellier

In the single height balconies which are covered by the floor above them, a curtain is provided to be introduced, enabling the residents to use them as open spaces or enclosed as loggias.  

This assemblage of floors not only provides balconies with extreme levels of privacy, but it also gives prospective residents choices beyond unit interior sizes, such as balcony sizes and orientation, as well as whether they are covered or open.

Farshid Moussavi’s curvaceous La Folie Divine tower nears completion in Montpellier

In addition, the concave and convex shape of the exterior wall provides a variety of experiences throughout each unit, as the geometry of the interior continually changes from room to room and even within the larger rooms.  

The irregular curvilinear shape of the building has the extra advantage of selfshading parts of the exterior envelope against the strong Montpellier summer sun – whereas the curvature on the north side is more gradual, it is intentionally more acute on the southern exposure.

Farshid Moussavi is Honorary Member of World Architecture Community and she will curate the Architecture Gallery of Royal Academy of Arts' Summer Exhibition, which will be held between 13 June-20 August 2017 at the Main Galleries, Burlington House, London.

All images courtesy of FMA

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