MAD Architecture Firm proudly announces the completion of “Paris UNIC”, marking their first building project in Europe and the inaugural work by a Chinese architectural firm on the continent.
Situated in Clichy Batignolles within Paris’ 17th arrondissement, UNIC’s gentle curves and flowing floor slabs seamlessly integrate with this emerging ecological district, embodying a contemporary vision of harmonizing nature with urban life.
01 Mixed-Use Living in Urban Renewal
Clichy Batignolles, located northwest of Paris, was once an ancillary railway station area that fell into disuse by the 1970s, characterized by fragmented plots and limited green spaces.
In 2001, as part of Paris’s bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the municipal government designated this area as the Olympic Village. Subsequently, with the objectives of “restoring urban fabric” and “creating an ecological city”, the district was redeveloped into a mixed-use ecological zone spanning 54 hectares. It includes 27 distinct plots and the central 10-hectare Martin Luther King Park.
This area is among the most diverse neighborhoods in Paris, moving away from the traditional Haussmann-style apartment blocks toward a new architectural ensemble designed by both local and international architects following an international competition. New facilities such as the courthouse, police station, commercial spaces, offices, cultural and entertainment venues, and public amenities have revitalized the community.
Additionally, the 3,400 residential units are divided into three categories: 50% social housing, 30% private market-rate homes, and 20% luxury residences, accommodating residents from various backgrounds and social classes.
02 Extending Nature into Architecture
In large cities, towering buildings often feel disconnected from nature. At UNIC, we seek to continue Paris’s tradition of integrating green spaces and gardens into the urban fabric by incorporating abundant natural areas on every floor of the building,” explains Ma Yansong.
UNIC features a cascading design that steps back from lower to higher levels, creating rich terraces that extend ecological nature into three-dimensional space. This design fosters interaction and dialogue between people and nature. The organic, flowing forms also reflect the architectural and cultural diversity of the surrounding neighborhood.
On the upper terraces, residents enjoy panoramic views of Paris. Those facing east can see Montmartre to the north, while residents on the southwest side above the eighth floor have scenic views of the Eiffel Tower.
The spacious terraces combined with transparent French windows blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, creating bright, airy, and flexible interiors.
UNIC employs a straightforward dual-core tube structure with a concrete facade, where the lightness of materials and the fluidity of the form complement each other, embodying simplicity and elegance.
03 Community-Oriented Planning with Inclusive Participation
UNIC shares a podium with an adjacent social housing building, featuring entrances for kindergartens, restaurants, supermarkets, and subway stations integrated within the podium level. This design combines private residences with public amenities, fostering daily community interaction and bringing residents closer through innovative spatial arrangements.
During the early design stages, the local community actively participated in discussions about the residential building. The MAD design team worked closely with local architects, residents, and developers through workshops, exploring urban planning, sustainable development, resource sharing, and energy management. This collaborative process ensured that UNIC became a creative project deeply integrated with its community.
04 International Recognition and Photography
As a reflection of Paris’s urban evolution, UNIC was featured in the inaugural permanent exhibition “MAD X” at the Pompidou Art Center in France in 2019. It was also highlighted in the special exhibition “Paris Architecture (1948-2020): Witnesses of Urban Progress”, jointly presented by the West Bund Art Museum and the Pompidou Art Center in 2021.
Architect Ma Yansong’s works blend technology and nature, fusing Western and Asian cultural influences to create flowing, organic forms that harmonize with the landscape. Inspired by the spirit of traditional Chinese landscape painting, MAD Architecture infuses natural themes such as forests and rivers into urban environments.
— From the description of UNIC in the special exhibition “Paris Architecture (1948-2020): A Witness to the Urban Process”
Project Drawings
△ Fourth floor plan
△ Ninth floor plan
△ Elevation drawing
Project Information
Project Name: UNIC
Location: Paris, France
Duration: 2012–2019
Base Area: 1,033 sqm
Building Area: 6,600 sqm
Building Height: 50 m
Lead Partners: Ma Yansong, Party Masses, Yokosuke Hayano
Lead Vice Partners: Andrea D’Antrasi, Flora Lee
Design Team: Zhao Wei, Wu Kaicong, Daniel Gillen, Jiang Bin, Tristan Brasseur, Juan Valeros, Gustavo Alfred van Staveren, Xin Dogterom, Juan Pablo, Cesar d Pena DelRey, Natalia Giacomino, Torsten Radunski, Rozita Kahirtseva
Owner: Emerige
Local Partner Firm & Team Coordination: BIECHER Architects
Structural Design: BECIP – BET Structure
Mechanical & Electrical Consultant: ESPACE TEMPS – BET Fluides
Landscape Design: PHYTOLAB – BET Paysagiste
Interior Design: Charles Zana
Project Management: Artelia
Constructor: Vinci Sicra Ile de France
Photography: Jared Chulski, Adam Mørk, Existential Architecture – Architectural Photography, Schulz
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