Emmaüs Clignancourt, SOA recently completed its Emmaüs Clignancourt project. Initially part of a Haussmannian super block dating from the 1880s, SOA chose to develop a contemporary interpretation of a stripped-down and humbler version of Haussmannian elegance.
© Charles Bouchaib
From Baron Haussmann to the Emmaüs Community – The “Clignancourt operation” (Rue EugèneSüe and Rue Simart) is Haussmann’s largest footprint in Paris. Totaling 74 buildings and 64 plots over 1.6 Ha, it is intended as a demonstration of the capacity of free enterprise to produce housing for low-income people. All of the five-storey buildings (plus a floor under the rafters) were built according to the plans of Paul-Casimir Fouquiau, which resulted in a homogenous housing development project.
© Charles Bouchaib
A Contemporary Interpretation of Haussmannian Elegance – For this project, the Emmaüs establishment’s requirement for restraint, combined with the city of Paris’s objectives regarding ecological construction materials, led to a stripped-down and humbler version of a Haussmannian building. Here, the economy of resources extends beyond mere performance to become a new form of architectural expression. The return to solid stone for the load-bearing walls of the façade called for a contemporary updating of its architectural language. The stone is rough-cut; the setting, free, with an emphasis placed on the recesses. The challenge was to blend the irregular layout of the stones into the geometric design of bosses, columns, and half columns, pilasters, capitals, frames, and cornices. The Haussmannian language of ornament is reduced to the bare essentials with simple,saw-cut recesses: horizontal recesses for the bosses of the base and the entresol, and vertical recesses for the building’s contours.
© Charles Bouchaib
User-Centric Interior Architecture – The building’s flexible plan and organization are designed to offer the best possible facilities for the daily life of Emmaüs community members, namely, thanks to the extreme simplification of upkeep requirements. The selling floor, which benefits from a broad window onto the street, is designed to benefit from double exposure and to be as large as possible. The environment in the upper floors is first and foremost intended to be practical and sociable for the Compagnons and temporary guests. Flats are organized around a central corridor benefiting from natural light and providing access to 9 flats of equal floor area, except for one, which is larger and accessible to people of reduced mobility. Bathrooms are generally arranged around a circulation hub to allow for the alignment of the living rooms with the façade.
Axo Detail – Hemp and Stone
On the Roof, Experimental Architecture for our Non-Human Co-Tenants – In addition to the long balcony on the fifth floor, the building’s top floors are reinterpreted with two successive setbacks that replace the eaves and little terraces. Thus, the traditional zinc roof gives way to a flat roof and architecture specifically dedicated to biodiversity.
Project Info
Architects: SOA Architectes
Country: France, Paris
Area: 1230 m²
Year: 2025
Photographs: Charles Bouchaib
Project Manager: Guillaume Née
Design Team: SOA Architectes
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.