French bureau Maison Edouard François has designed social housing in Nice with green facades and balconies
January 10, 2022
An unusual complex of affordable housing, Le Ray, has opened in Nice. It consists of three buildings, whose facades and roofs are abundantly covered with greenery. The complex was designed by the French bureau Maison Edouard François. It stands on a site in a valley that slopes down to the sea between the hills. The architects arranged the buildings in such a way that from the lanes between them one could see either the sea or the hills. Most of Le Ray is occupied by apartments (96 of them are provided on a social basis), in addition, there is a hypermarket, and there are sports zones and a 3 hectare park on the territory.
The facades of Maison Edouard François are painted in pastel colors, but the most interesting thing here is vertical landscaping. Chestnut wood and steel supports are attached to the balconies, on which the flower beds are attached. Some of the plants are planted in them, others right on the terraces. Watering is done using a complex pipe system that collects excess water. The architects are going to dismantle it, since the climate in Nice is extremely favorable. The trees on the land plot of the complex already reach a height of 50 meters.