We selected a site in Ivry-sur-Seine, a city undergoing significant development, for our project aimed at revitalizing the city center. The Hangar, a music center with classrooms, recording studios, and concert halls, is located in the heart of the city, near the town hall esplanade. The site is used for public events, including a market, and the courtyard serves as both a parking area and a passageway.
To improve access and functionality, we assessed the existing buildings for preservation, renovation, or demolition based on materials and location, while cataloging salvageable resources. We used various materials—stone, brick, wood, metal, aggregates, and joinery—to create architectural elements such as walls, stairs, and roofs.
The design process followed seven steps, taking into account the needs of each space and the dimensions of available materials. We made the exhibition space modular to accommodate changing displays and connected the bar and exhibition hall through versatile furniture that also serves as a reception counter. Upstairs, a mezzanine overlooks the bar and houses art classes, while a participatory vegetable garden is set up on the recording studio’s terrace.
The new openings improve the site’s visibility and connection to the street, while stone seats in the courtyard provide multi-functional seating and surfaces for events. The use of reclaimed materials saved €91,126 and avoided 32,233,977 kWh of production energy, contributing to both environmental and cost savings.
The reuse of materials allowed us to build efficiently on-site, eliminating delays and reducing embodied energy. This project exemplifies how material reuse can be an economical, ecological, and architectural solution, offering a new approach to city center revitalization by rebuilding with the city’s own resources.