Glass Skylight © Marco Cappelletti
52 Champs Elysees Central Atrium View © Marco Cappelletti
Corner entrance renovation © Marco Cappelletti
Corner facade interior view © Marco Cappelletti
52 CHAMPS ÉLYSÉES
Studio : VS-A.FR
Client : HARRODS ESTATES
Architect : PCA
Contractor : BOUYGUES BÂTIMENT
Location : PARIS, FRANCE
Working on the Champs Elysées is a kind of achievement for all Architects. This project was the refurbishment of a 30s art-deco building. The works concerning the windows consisted in a total overhaul, with the highest possible performances regarding energy savings, without changing the appearance. VS-A is familiar with such kinds of work. We love doing it and the results can indeed be incredibly close to the original design. We feel sad when we see projects where technical issues destroy the harmony of the original design.
We discovered a fantastic glass roof that was concealed by a false ceiling for years. In fact, this is probably one of the most characteristic parts of the original project and literally the heart of it. It was partially damaged and it had lost its watertightness, so what to do? We started thinking of a glass dome with triangular glasses that could cover it, but it was hard to convince ourselves and the client that the structure wouldn’t affect the vision from the underside.
The agreed solution was the restoration of the glass dome; replacing the broken glass; redoing the mortar seals; and adding a slightly colored resin to match the color of the existing glass some 90 years prior. There was an added bonus of achieving a warranty for water tightness with this technique. Sometimes, old design has a history and a charm that we must respect.