The project consists of the rehabilitation of 216 dwellings, the renovation of the basements and the parking area, as well as the redesign of the common areas and the interior garden of the Square Etex residence, located in Créteil. The aim of the operation is to improve the energy performance, the quality of the environment, the comfort of the residents, and the architectural image of this housing complex built in 1981.
Client: Immobilière 3F
Programme: Rehabilitation, while the buildings were inhabited, of the 5 buildings of the Square Etex residence, including the renovation of the building envelope, technical systems, common areas, and the parking facility, as well as the redevelopment of the outdoor spaces and the inner garden.
Surface Area: 25 292 m²
Budget: 14 430 000 + VAT
Certification et labels: HQE
Engineering: LGX ingenierie
Landscape: Vincent Lion Paysage
The Square Etex residence occupies an entire block bordered by major roadways and the metro line. It is composed of five buildings ranging from eleven to sixteen storeys, arranged around a large podium garden. The complex contains 216 dwellings, ten entrance halls, and several underground levels housing parking areas, storage rooms, and technical facilities. Its architecture—characterised by rendered façades, ribbed parapets, and a rational composition—is representative of late 20th-century social housing.
Although the overall structure remains sound, the residence now shows various signs of ageing: soiled façades, old and poorly insulated window frames, deteriorated loggias, insufficient ventilation, and thermal discomfort for most residents. The common areas, affected by wear and by an obsolete access-control system, require major renovation, while the basements suffer from water infiltration and security shortcomings. The central garden, modified over time to incorporate accessibility ramps, has lost part of its usability and clarity.
The rehabilitation project aims to improve both the image and performance of the residence, sustainably enhancing the comfort of the dwellings and the quality of shared spaces. It includes façade renovation, full roof repairs, replacement of window joinery, optimisation of ventilation, and modernisation of interior facilities. Loggias and balconies will be repaired and upgraded, while the common areas will undergo a redesign incorporating safety, accessibility, and architectural coherence. Particular attention will be given to strengthening access control, installing video surveillance, and reorganising circulation flows within the parking area.
The redesign of the podium garden and its surroundings will provide a more pleasant, readable, and greener living environment, restoring landscape quality and everyday use at the heart of the residence. Overall, the project seeks to balance respect for the existing structure with an ambitious modernisation, offering residents a safer, more comfortable environment adapted to contemporary needs.
