In Villeurbanne’s Mansart district, M45 by Triptyque redefines industrial heritage through a contemporary lens, blending historical continuity with modern adaptability. Rather than erasing the past, the project embraces it, transforming an industrial site into a dynamic mixed-use space that integrates production, commerce, and urban life. By prioritizing essentialist design and programmatic flexibility, M45 offers a compelling model for sustainable urban revitalization.
M45 Urban Hub Technical Information
- Architects1-2: Triptyque
- Location: Villeurbanne, France
- Client: Promoval / Fontanel / 6ème Sens
- Area: 5,000 m2 | 53,800 Sq. Ft.
- Project Year: 2018 – 2023
- Photographs: © Salem Mostefaoui
More than just a building, M45 is a testament to how intelligent design can honor history while embracing the future.
– Triptyque Architects
M45 Urban Hub Photographs
M45 Context and Design Intent
Villeurbanne, a satellite city of Lyon, has long been shaped by its industrial past. The Mansart district, where M45 is situated, bears the marks of this history, with its warehouse-like structures and production facilities defining the urban grain. While many post-industrial sites face erasure or speculative redevelopment, Triptyque’s intervention seeks a more nuanced approach that acknowledges the district’s origins while addressing the demands of a modern, evolving city.
At the heart of M45’s conceptual framework is the notion of the “Productive City,” an urban model that resists the compartmentalization of work, commerce, and residential life. Instead of segregating functions into isolated zones, the project advocates for hybrid programming, where diverse activities coexist within a single, adaptable framework. This approach is particularly relevant in an era of increasing urban density, where the efficiency of space utilization has become paramount.
Triptyque’s strategy revolves around continuity rather than contrast. The design does not seek to impose a radically new language on the site but instead works with its existing industrial logic. The structure retains its industrial predecessors’ robust materiality and open-plan nature, yet refines these elements to create a spatially and functionally flexible framework.
The building’s compact form is deliberately structured to optimize spatial efficiency and urban permeability. Its three-volume composition organizes the programmatic elements into distinct yet interconnected spaces, allowing seamless transitions between functions. Emergency exits, often treated as secondary elements, are integrated into external walkways, enhancing circulation while reinforcing the project’s essentialist aesthetic.
Spatial Organization and Adaptive Design
M45’s spatial organization is a direct response to the complexity of contemporary urban life. Unlike conventional mixed-use developments, which often rely on rigid zoning principles, M45 employs a more fluid approach. The three primary volumes house different functions—artisan workshops at the lower levels and office spaces above—but these delineations are not fixed. Instead, the design allows for easy programmatic shifts, ensuring that the building remains adaptable to future demands.
The external walkways serve a practical function and introduce a rhythmic quality to the building’s massing. These elevated pathways not only improve accessibility but also frame the inner courtyards, activating the in-between spaces that are often overlooked in commercial projects. The result is an architecture that fosters interaction—between users, different programmatic elements, and the building and its urban context.
One of M45’s most compelling qualities is its commitment to adaptability. While many contemporary buildings claim flexibility, they often fail to deliver in practice due to structural limitations. Here, however, flexibility is embedded into the very logic of the design.
The open-plan interiors allow for straightforward reconfigurations. Office spaces can be converted into workshops, commercial areas can be repurposed as co-working hubs, and residential functions can be integrated as urban conditions evolve. This level of reversibility extends the building’s lifespan and ensures its continued relevance in an unpredictable urban landscape.
Materiality and Constructive Rationalism
Triptyque’s approach to materiality is defined by restraint. Instead of employing a decorative or overly expressive palette, the architects have opted for a subdued, rationalist material selection that reinforces the building’s essentialist philosophy.
Subdividing the building into smaller, legible units enhances the sense of scale while allowing for direct engagement with the urban fabric. The use of interconnecting walkways and streamlined circulation cores further emphasizes the project’s commitment to clarity and efficiency. This architectural language, while understated, has a significant impact—it prioritizes usability while maintaining a strong, cohesive identity.
M45’s construction draws upon the robust logic of industrial typologies. Structural efficiency is key: exposed frameworks and minimal core layouts reduce excess, ensuring the spatial experience remains fluid and adaptable. The material palette of concrete, steel, and glass echoes the site’s industrial past while offering a refined, contemporary expression.
Beyond aesthetics, the choice of materials also speaks to sustainability. By working within an existing industrial footprint and incorporating elements of the former structure, M45 minimizes the environmental impact typically associated with large-scale urban projects. This resource-conscious approach aligns with a broader shift in contemporary architecture that values longevity and adaptability over transient trends.
Urban Integration and Broader Significance
One of the most thought-provoking aspects of M45 is its rejection of rigid zoning paradigms. The project challenges the traditional separation of production and urban living, instead advocating for a model where small-scale industry and commercial activity coexist within a dense urban framework.
This integration is particularly significant in Villeurbanne, where the decline of industrial activity has led to fragmented urban landscapes. By reintroducing productive functions into the city’s core, M45 offers a counterpoint to the homogenization of urban development, fostering economic diversity and social interaction.
M45 is a compelling case study for architects and urban planners seeking alternative models for post-industrial sites. Its emphasis on adaptability, permeability, and essentialist design principles offers valuable insights into how cities can evolve without erasing their past.
M45 Urban Hub Plans
M45 Urban Hub Image Gallery
About Triptyque
Triptyque is a French-Brazilian architecture and urbanism agency founded in 2000 in São Paulo and later in Paris in 2008 by Guillaume Sibaud and Olivier Raffaëlli. Known for its naturalist and rationalist approach, the firm specializes in public and private projects across residential, corporate, education, hospitality, healthcare, and research sectors. Their work, which explores urban adaptation and sustainable design, has been exhibited in major museums, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
Credits and Additional Notes
- Program: Mixed-use building (Commercial, Office, Production)
Design Team: Guillaume Sibaud, Olivier Raffaëlli, Sébastien Tison, Damien Murat, Charlotte Ferreux, Théo Tostivint, Juliano Thomé, Bruna Teixeira, Kelly Comparsi, Luiz Filipe Rampazio, Alex Perret.
