Parisian architecture and urban planning firm TVK recently unveiled its new project in the French capital for mixed use, part of the larger “Reinventing Paris I” competition, with the opening of a large sports center and the welcoming of its first residents. Designed in collaboration with landscape studio OLM for Linkcity, the real estate development subsidiary of Bouygues Bâtiment, “L’îlot fertile” (the fertile island) was designed as a large open garden, a breathing space in the heart of the dense city.

In addition to calling itself the first entirely zero-emission neighborhood in Paris, the project-situated 19th arrondissement of the metropolis, in direct connection with the Rosa Parks plaza-will be the largest massive load-bearing stone building site since Haussmann. The four buildings, each of which has a unique shape, will use more than 2,500 m3 – a quantity, unprecedented today. The choice of the outline of the buildings also reveals the uniqueness of the garden at the center of the project and allows for play of light, sunshine and views to benefit the housing. Here, The terraces of about 1,500 m2 are decorated with fruit trees and vegetable gardens.

Coexisting around the cherry orchards and gardens today are 13 programs: 118 lodgings, a student residence with 164 lodgings, a youth hostel with 230 beds, a hotel with 130 rooms, a young worker’ residence with 159 lodgings, stores, sports equipment, an incubator, offices, and a community garden.