Project labels
设计公司:Hamonic+Masson & Associates
Location: France
Type: Architecture
Materials: wood, metal, concrete, coatings, glass
Tags: Le Havre
Categories: Residential Apartments, Residential Buildings, Residential Buildings, Towers
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The 55-metre-tall residential tower, designed by the architectural firm Hamonic+Masson & Associé for client SOGEPROM, was recently completed in Le Havre, France. The building, called the Alta Tower, is bold and expressive with its twisted geometry and concrete frame. The building is located in the heart of the city, rebuilt by France architect Auguste Perret for Le Havre after the war, near the curvaceous Le Volcan leisure center designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
▼ Project Overview
In 2015, Hamonic+Masson & Associés participated in a design competition involving renowned architects such as Herzog & De Meuron and Rudy Ricciotti and won the commission for the new tower. Le Havre, the second most important port city in France, suffered severe damage in World War II. After the war, architect Auguste Perret was commissioned to design a new city center for the area. Between 1945 and 1964 the city center of Le Havre was rebuilt, and in 2005 this modernist, innovative and meticulous concrete city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of Perret's architectural vision.
▼I see the building from the port
The design competition asked the architect to construct a new residential tower in the heart of the city designed by Perret for Le Havre and to link it to Oscar Niemeyer's unique curvilinear concrete building, as well as the strict modernist grid of Perret's urban planning. In Perret's original master plan, a residential tower was envisaged for the site. As such, Hamonic+Masson & Associés designed a landmark contemporary building that reflects Perret's architectural vision of reinventing the heart of the city while maintaining a connection to history.
▼ Building appearance
Jean-Christophe Masson, Co-Founder and Director of Hamonic+Masson & Associés, explains: "The Alta Tower is part of the city, reflecting the blend of tradition and modernity, reinforcing each other. It is rooted in the history of world architecture in the 20th century and has pioneered a new typology. In keeping with Perret's urban plan and Niemeyer's Le Volcan recreation centre, two sacred works of modernist architecture, Hamonic+Masson & Associés had to hand in a new answer. As such, the Alta Tower combines the essential elements of the two projects, including the form and sensibility of Niemeyer, the grid and order of Perret, and the common material of all three projects: concrete. ”
▼I see the surrounding environment from the building
The Alta Tower is located at the junction of the two major urban grids in the Perret master plan, adjacent to the Le Volcan leisure centre. The unique location of the city, as well as its location between the city and the sea, inspires the unique character of the building. Its twisted form, marked by rotating balconies and sloping columns, gives the building a unique expression that is more like a work of art than a residential building.
▼ Inclined pillars
A strong architectural concept and creative construction methods have led to the creation of Alta Tower. Considering the traffic circulation, site context, and diversity principle, the final volume of the building responds to the different scales of the city in the interaction with the hierarchy. The dynamic form of the building's ascending distortion comes from the deformation of the Niemeyer's form and Perret's grid and order. The building features twisted geometric shapes, while rotating balconies and sloping columns further give the building a unique character. In addition, this distorted form is a reflection of the different architectural scales of the site, as well as a response to natural elements such as wind and sun.
▼ Twisted and rising building form
The building contains a total of 64 apartments as well as a nursery. Spacious balconies allow residents to enjoy panoramic views across the city and marina from their homes. The column-free interior space can be freely configured according to requirements. This open layout, along with large rotating balconies, gives residents the freedom to customize their homes from the design stage, and can even break through the walls between the apartments to create more spacious and open floors. Alta Tower, with its free and flexible living experience, presents a new approach to vertical housing in urban environments.
▼Large rotating balcony
▼Architectural detail
Edouard Philippe, Mayor of Le Havre and former Prime Minister of France, congratulated the project team at the inauguration of the building in December 2023. "The city of Le Havre is proud and proud of the inauguration of the Alta Tower," he said. It is an excellent architectural feat, and its beauty has become the talk of the town, generating discussion and attracting the attention of the public, while blending in with the view of Le Havre. ”
▼Balcony
▼Balcony detail
Eric Groven, President of Sogeprom, said: "What a bold masterpiece this is! With the help of the architects Hamonic+Masson & Associés, Sogeprom has completed this exceptional residential project, which is a landmark in both design and construction, elegant, efficient and... Synonymous with the level of complexity of construction. The decidedly avant-garde architecture is subtly integrated into the architectural environment of Le Havre. "Building Cities on Cities", which makes a significant contribution to the de-artification of land by replacing urban sprawl with vertical density, is a concrete and vivid testimony to the promotion of environmental and social values. ”
▼Night view
▼Ground floor entrance
▼ Public lobby
As the city's newest landmark, the Alta Tower once again affirms the modernity of the Le Havre skyline. It was warmly welcomed by the citizens and quickly became a veritable new symbol of Le Havre.
▼Night view of the building
▼ General floor plan
▼ Ground floor plan
▼Floor plan of the second floor
▼Five-story floor plan
▼Eight-story floor plan
▼Seventeen-storey floor plan
▼ Sectional view
▼Detail