Citylights, Pont de Sèvres Towers

Built in 1975 by the architects Badani and Roux-Dorlut, these towers embodied the architectural modernity of their time, standing high and dense in a barren urban setting. Their complete restructuring turned that isolation into an asset, both economically and in the way the towers meet the city.

A large new space at ground level connects the towers to their surroundings and roots them in the urban fabric. The hexagonal floor plates, each with a central core serving the offices, offer views in every direction. All workspaces receive direct daylight, and the open offices are narrow so that no more than twelve people are visible from any point.

Their prism-like shapes make the towers efficient at capturing light, which shines through the buildings and reflects on the crystalline facades so that every office benefits, whichever side it faces. Bands of light wrap the towers like bracelets, designed to make them glow at night.

At the centre, a sheltered hall acts as an agora, a stage of platforms, aisles and balconies filled with light from both sides. It gives the towers a single address and helps visitors and employees find their way.