Dominique Perrault Architecture renovated and extended Paris' modernist prismatic towers with crystallized facades, creating new urban morphology in the centre of Paris. 

The Pont de Sèvres Towers, renamed after the renovation as Citylights, were originally built in 1975 by architects Badani and Roux-Dorlut. The prism-shaped towers represented the era’s architectural modernity, they stood high and dense in the midst of a barren urban territory. 

Image © Andre Morin/ Dominique Perrault Architecture /ADAGP

Dominique Perrault Architecture turned the sense of ''isolation'' into an asset by re-structuring and extending these towers to elevate their socio-economic values in an urban level. 

Referencing to their self-evident resources, the towers become an integral part of Paris’s recent expansion towards Grand Paris. In addition to their strong territorial impact, these elements have transformed the buildings’ morphology and mutation.

Image © Vincent Fillon/ Dominique Perrault Architecture /ADAGP

While the towers were originally cut off from their environment, they are now entirely and organically linked to it, through a grid of pedestrian routes connecting them to the new Trapèze district. 

There, the wasteland of the former Renault factories has now been replaced by office and residential build-ings, both new and refurbished.

Image © Vincent Fillon/ Dominique Perrault Architecture /ADAGP

Dominique Perrault's firm conceived a range of spaces in order to open the project to the outside: a large plaza in front of the towers, passageways on the sides, and gardens. The project is now physically anchored in the city. 

The 53,000 square feet space that was created on the ground level connects the towers to their environment and roots them into the urban space of the city. With the reception areas, walkways and communal spaces- the studio offered a new type of work environment, fit for today’s world.

Image © Dominique Perrault Architecture /ADAGP

''The decision to rehabilitate large architectural projects such as this one is based on a contemporary logic steeped in effciency and reality. These projects possess undeniable design and geometrical qualities. The hexagonal floor plan, for instance, with its central core serving floors of offices, offers 360° views of Paris and its Western suburbs,'' said Dominique Perrault Architecture.

Image © Vincent Fillon/ Dominique Perrault Architecture /ADAGP

All of the work spaces receive direct daylight, and the open offices are narrow so that no more than twelve people are ever visible from any given point. The architecture of the buildings is denser than it would be, had they been conceived nowadays. 

''Our goal with this project therefore consisted in unveiling these assets,'' the architects added.

Image © Vincent Fillon/ Dominique Perrault Architecture /ADAGP

With their prism-like shapes, the buildings are very efficient when it comes to capturing light. Just like with optical instruments, the traditional opposition between the north and south faces of the buildings no longer applies.

Image © Andre Morin/ Dominique Perrault Architecture /ADAGP

Sunlight shines throughout the buildings and reflects on the crystallized facades so that all of ces can benefit from it, whichever face of the building they are on. This urban complex forms a prow at the entrance of the city of Boulogne, which can be seen from the highway down the hill of Meudon.

Image © Vincent Fillon/ Dominique Perrault Architecture /ADAGP

The rehabilitation process of the Pont de Sèvres Towers, while respecting their historic value, allowed for a thoroughly new structure, in line with current norms and new sustainable development performances.

Image © Vincent Fillon/ Dominique Perrault Architecture /ADAGP

The name Citylights, chosen by the project management, is a perfect description of the gleaming ''bracelets'' of the buildings, whose lighting will be specially conceived to make them shine bright in the night sky. 

Light gleams on every level of the towers, in the work spaces, dining areas, auditorium and on the campus which opens out to the city below. Citylights is a luminous tower, a beacon into the city in which it is now anchored.

Image © Vincent Fillon/ Dominique Perrault Architecture /ADAGP

Image © Dominique Perrault Architecture /ADAGP

Image © Dominique Perrault Architecture /ADAGP

French president François Hollande, President of Centre des Monuments nationaux Philippe Bélaval and Dominique Perrault are currently working on the future directions of Cité in the coming 25 years, addressing the urban problems, future visions and development strategies for Cité. 

An exhibition about re-designing Cité called ''Mission Île de la Cité'' will open to public and be on view at the Conciergerie's Hall of Gens d'Armes till April 2017, highlighted World Architecture Community France Reporter Angela Ki Ki Lee. Dominique Perrault also completed refurbishment of Dufour Pavilion at Palace Of Versailles last year. 

Top image © Vincent Fillon/ Dominique Perrault Architecture /ADAGP

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