The question was whether ‘to plan, bringing the Haussmannian language into the architectural project or not… preferring to renew without too many references to the past?’
Centring thoughts around the various materials collected and residents’ accounts, it became clear that the prime motivating factor for the project should be to conserve the unique identity of the Faubourg area and improve (or rather avoid degenerating) its habitability.
“Respect the essence and spirit of the quarter and follow an impulse towards a possible and indeed necessary evolution” – became the preface for the project.
The criteria for the Cité Prost project are essentially as follows:
connect the Haussmannian fabric of the city to the minute area of the Faubourg;
conserve the “Murs Pignons”; optimise exposition of the construction without interfering with the exposition to the sun of the existing buildings; create a “Diaphragm” – Giant Brise Soleil in wood – between the residential area and the public park area.