China, the second country to join the Cité 2025 project
Under an agreement signed in June 2016, in the presence of Liu Yandong, Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, and Jean-Marc Ayrault, French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, the Chancellery of the Universities of Paris made a 2,800 m² plot of land available to the People’s Republic of China for the construction of a house.
The People’s Republic of China entrusted the project to the Beijing municipal government, which worked with the Beijing Capital Land consortium to implement and finance the project. SCET, a consulting and engineering firm and subsidiary of Caisse des Dépôts, was appointed to provide project management assistance.
The Maison des étudiants chinois is part of the Cité internationale’s major development project, Cité 2025.
A dual inspiration: the Chinese tulou and the Haussmannian urban block
Designed by Atelier FCJZ and Coldefy & Associés Architectes Urbanistes, the building draws inspiration from the traditional communal houses of Fujian Province and the density of the Haussmannian urban block. The rooms open onto a covered, open-sided interior gallery and are accessed via “promenade” staircases that wind through the gardens.
A Pavilion at the Crossroads of Two Cultures
The architecture of the house brings French and Chinese cultures together through a contemporary interpretation free from pastiche. Its form results from the bold fusion of two traditional urban typologies: the Chinese tulou (a circular communal residence built between the 15th and 20th centuries in southern China) and the dense Haussmannian urban block, built around an inner courtyard, whose form follows the surrounding streets. Unlike the tulou, however, which features thick, almost windowless earthen walls on the exterior to defend against enemies, the house engages with its surroundings and, like a Haussmannian building, is wrapped in vibrant façades. The dual-aspect apartments thus open onto both the interior of the residence and the outside.
The building, with its elongated circular form, naturally places the heart of the residence’s communal life at its center, around which the entire community is organized. In the central garden reserved for residents, a Piranesian metal staircase unfolds at the heart of the walkways serving the nine levels. Hidden behind wooden screens, these walkways provide access to the rooms. Each room has its own private bathroom and is furnished with modular furniture designed to optimize the use of space.
An architectural promenade
The rooftop terrace features a suspended garden. In addition to the views, residents can enjoy a jogging track winding through a variety of vegetation, including Chinese quince, agapanthus and sage. Three other gardens, peaceful oases of greenery and tranquillity, contribute to the residents’ well-being.
A Hub for Academic and Artistic Exchange
The Maison des étudiants chinois serves as a focal point for China’s academic presence and influence in the Île-de-France region. Like all the residences on campus, it embraces a mix of nationalities and welcomes residents from other countries. Chinese residents, in turn, can live in other residences across the campus.
A 280-seat auditorium also enables the Maison des étudiants chinois to serve as an important venue for hosting and showcasing Chinese intellectual, artistic and cultural productions.
