The complex, which will consist of 44,000 m² of floor space imagined by architects David Chipperfield Architects and CALQ Architecture, will incorporate a 161-room hotel, a youth hostel, shops, a nursery, a cultural amenity and 199 homes. The terrace of the 50-metre building, known for offering one of the finest views of Paris, will feature a spectacular structure designed by the artist Olafur Eliasson in conjunction with Studio Other Spaces, playing on optical effects and 360° reflections. The complex will function like an urban neighbourhood. The dual-aspect ground floor, which will be open to the public, will be landscaped and will contain a number of shops as well as a food market.

Bernard Mounier, CEO of Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France, said: “Morland Mixité Capitale, one of the flagship sites of the ‘Reinventing Paris’ initiative, spotlights Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France know-how in meeting the challenges of mixed uses and energy management in carrying out one of the capital’s largest mixed-use developments, which will provide Parisians with an innovative living area.”

Straddling line 7 of the metro, the new buildings in the complex will be built on “stilts” consisting of arches in architecturally exposed concrete cast on site. Among other technical feats, the project will include the creation of four basement levels in the former Île de Louviers. Beyond the technical aspects of the project, the teams will also have to contend with dense road traffic on the Boulevard Morland and the Quai Henri IV. The Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France – Rénovation Privée logistics platform inaugurated in April, will make it possible to meet the challenges of urban logistics, improve the management of flows on the site and reduce its environmental footprint.

17 Boulevard Morland will be a smart, interconnected and environmentally friendly building: 2,300 m² of roof-top flower and vegetable gardens will be integrated, and there will be artificial intelligence solutions for the overall energy management of the project. With regard to environmental certification, office space will be certified by the labels HQE Excellent, BREEAM Bespoke International Very Good and BBC Effinergie for the renovation part of the project, while the housing will be certified HQE Excellent and BBC Effinergie Rénovation. 

Works on the project are already underway. They will last 29 months, with up to 665 people working onsite at peak periods.

Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France, the Bouygues Construction subsidiary in the Paris region, provides its customers with a comprehensive offering through the specialities of its entities. Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France received the Operational Excellence Award for 2018 in the Large Companies category. The highest French distinction in this field, the prize was created by the French employers’ confederation (the MEDEF) and France Qualité in 2017. It is intended to showcase the most agile and competitive companies and local authorities of all sizes that are committed to improving operational excellence, a key driver of “non-cost” competitiveness for a business.