Ne.st office building in La Défense for Bouygues Immobilier by 163 Ateliers

Rehagreen, the Bouygues Immobilier subsidiary dedicated to commercial refurbishment projects, is to take on the Axe Défense building, which will be renamed Ne.st. The architectural design has been entrusted to 163 Ateliers. The 12,300 m² project is due for completion in the first quarter of 2021.

Context and setting in the La Défense business district

The Axe Défense building stands at 49 rue Louis Blanc in Courbevoie, north of the Esplanade de la Défense metro station and close to the Saint-Gobain headquarters. Built in 1991 with 9,085 m² of floor space spread over nine storeys, it was bought by Bouygues Immobilier in 2018. Asked by the Actuarchi editorial team, Bouygues Immobilier said it had chosen the architecture practice 163 Ateliers for "the whole of its work, and in particular its remarkable scheme for the Fédération Française du Bâtiment in Paris's 17th arrondissement".

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Transformation by 163 Ateliers

Once the asbestos has been removed, the building will be wrapped in a cladding of anodised aluminium and enamelled glass. The base of the project will extend over 1,000 m² and include 700 m² of outdoor space that can be reserved for private use. The building also has three levels of basement parking, providing 150 spaces. The various floor plates will be able to accommodate 1,090 workstations.

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The project culminates in a rooftop terrace offering panoramic views over the La Défense district. On the environmental side, the engineering consultancy Alto Ingénierie has opted for a heat pump located on the terraces, combined with a connection to the district cooling network.