Crystal Défense - HSBC Headquarters, Nanterre
The Neruda office building juxtaposes three glass prisms. In the central prism, an exotic garden open to the public serves as the main entrance. Full of plants, it offers a natural transition between public and private spaces. On each floor, the balconies look on to the garden which, at night, becomes a fountain of light. The glass facades optimise lighting. The technical facilities are distributed in the three rooftop shelters.
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Program
Office building, common restaurant, car park.
Client
Icade Tertial, property developer
Epad, developer contractor
Project team
Chaix & Morel et Associés, Paris
Philippe Chaix, Jean-Paul Morel, Rémy van Nieuwenhove
with Kaï-Jorge Jensen
and Eric Bartolo, Laurent Brault, Frédéric Carrasco, Ulisse Gnesda, Emmanuel Laurent, Antoine Viger Kohler
Arcoba, engineering
AEI, quantity surveyor
AR&C, façade
Peutz & Associés, acoustics
Socotec, quality surveyors
Socotec, safety and health protection coordination
Atelier de paysage Isabelle Schmit, landscaping
Key figures
Area : 15 900 m² SHON
Construction costs excl. VAT : 24 M €
Competition 2000 - completion 2003
Photography credits
Didier Goustard
Christian Richters
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