Retraite à Paris

After four years of rehabilitation, the former care home for elderly people EHPAD Belleville has been completely transformed into the Sara Weill-Raynal Residence. A primary goal of the project was to restore programmatic coherence and urban legibility. This sense of calm is achieved in part by aligning the building with neighboring structures on Rue Pelleport and extending it to the property boundary, thereby reaffirming the private status of the previously set-back land (2.20 m from the street). This extension has its own structural system and foundations, ensuring that the existing building is not overloaded.

From Cologne to Pelleport, there is just one brick: the Kolumba, developed by Peter Zumthor in collaboration with Petersen Tegl in 2000 for the Kolumba Museum at the Church of St. Columba in Cologne. The legendary flat brick (528 x 108 x 37 mm) is used by Avenier Cornejo for the façades of a six-story building dedicated to dependent elderly residents on Rue Pelleport. By borrowing its authenticity and durability, Christelle Avenier and Miguel Cornejo provide residents and staff with a sense of dignity and serenity that extends into the garden and interior spaces. At the same time, the project offers Rue Pelleport a new contemporary architectural presence: following Soler at 99, Borel at 131, and Bruther at 135, there is now Avenier Cornejo at 180. Who said it was a disadvantaged area?

Press kit upon request