Erected in the inner courtyard of an urban block in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, la Villa Vauvenargues Children’s Centre brings both life and light to the former industrial site.
Commissioned by the Fondation Œuvre de la Croix Saint Simon, in partnership with Paris City Hall and the French Family Benefit Fund CAF, this amenity includes a centre for young children as well as a daycare facility for vulnerable families. For Christine Kalus of the Kalus und Roussel architectural bureau, it was important “to preserve the industrial heritage of the site, to extend the inner courtyard and to give the block surrounded by Haussmann buildings a new, airy ambience”. Enamelled white tiles offered the ideal solution. The old brick fireplace in the courtyard reminds us of the former function of the site.
While searching for a durable and sensitive material, Christine Kalus discovered Koramic products, in particular the enamelled 301 plain tiles. She had a strip made to size, mixing 3 white and cream shades. Once laid, she was convinced that she had found the correct formula, which “gave the white colour a sense of vibration”.
The inhabitants of the properties overlooking the courtyard can attest to the fact that the buildings in the centre reflect the sun’s rays, bringing new light to this rather gloomy interior area. Christine Kalus is delighted with her first experience with Wienerberger, especially the support provided by the company’s specialists during the installation.
A highlight is “the scaling effect created by the mixture of tiles, which adds a certain relief to the clean lines of the buildings”. Moreover, the architect loves the durability of the material and its ease of maintenance. “One hose down is enough to restore its lustre”. And to add an extra splash of light, particularly in winter, LEDs incorporated into the copper panelled walls on the ground floor make the courtyard look quite magical.
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