Program: Urban Intrevention, Commercial

Design: Arcade, Canopy, Dome

Location: Paris, France

Type: Academic Concept

Architect: John Kanakas

Period: 2014-2015

The intervention takes place at the Place Edouard VII and at Rue Edouard VII. It comprises of two parts that are strongly interrelated. The first is the double layered arcade of Rue Edouard VII and the second one is the double layered dome at Place Edouard VII. The design creates enclosed spaces that provide shelter for further programmatic usage and offer a different interiorized experience of urban life.
The bottom layers are positioned right above the commercial ground floor of the spaces. The top layers are placed on top of the last floor of the Haussmannian building. The bottom layers of the intervention are structured with still frame and glass. The top layer is structured only with still frame. The purpose of that is to allow natural ventilation to the residential floors and in the same time to allow to its inhabitants views to both the enclosed spaces and the sky. On the other hand the people from within these spaces are the only ones able to observe the effect and experience the superimposed layers and their variable conditions during a daily cycle.
The two dome layers are created by stellar gratings of descending width and are exactly the same, designed as such to provide a maximum effect of spatial augmentation and motion, and in the same time to allow maximum natural light to enter the courtyard. On the other hand the two arcade layers are different from each other. The bottom layer is consistent with the same frame of parallel elements,  to trick the eye and give the impression of a usual arcade. The top layer though has variable height, which is the reason that allows for a different experience from within the Rue Edouard VII. Following the specific condition that intentionally we want to create at the path, the upper layer is designed as such to provide either a stronger effect with less light reaching that part or a less visible effect with a brighter area under. Although all these conditions vary during a daily cycle in relation to the position of the sun.