assortment of buildings previously designed by
such architects as Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Zaha
Hadid Architects, Studio Fuksas, and Ricardo
Bofill (Taller de Arquitectura).
In this case, Laisné and Rachdi, who had
both worked for Jean Nouvel, wanted to enter
the competition but in partnership with a
more experienced architect: the RFP encour-
aged younger generations of architects to
collaborate with somewhat older ones. Even
though Fujimoto, age 48, hadn’t practiced in
France, his ethereal and idiosyncratic residen-
tial work, such as the N House (record, April
2009), House NA (record April 2012), and
House K (record, April 2013) had brought him
international stature.
Fujimoto was game. The designers all con-
vened for a five-day charrette in Tokyo to
generate the Montpellier scheme. When they
won the competition in 2014, Fujimoto set up
of curves, to bend around corners.
The facade is clad in white metal. The
balconies are formed of built-up welded
sections and bolted to vertical steel H-beams,
which in turn are fixed to the concrete floor
slabs. While the balconies appear to be canti-
levered, they are connected to the tower by
tie rods. Basically steel trays, their loads have
been calculated according to their orienta-
tion and length, and the assemblages are
covered with fireproofing and wood decking.
Steel pergolas above the terraces act as
brises -soleil.
These extrusions seem to float; the exterior
stairs that connect the terraces of the few
duplex apartments might pose exciting mo-
ments for those who are susceptible to vertigo.
But on a beautiful evening at sunset, with
plenty of Languedoc wine, you can relax and
forget any fears of going out on a limb. nshop in Paris, and brought in Marie de France
as project architect. (In 2016, the Paris office
won another competition—with Laisné and
Roussel—for the arresting Vertical Village
proposal in Rosny-sous-Bois, part of the Grand
Paris urban plan.)
Since the 25,000-square-foot site for L’Arbre
Blanc along the Lez River offered panoramic
views of the city, the brief called for a rooftop
bar and restaurant for the public. In addition,
an art gallery occupies the base, with cowork-
ing office space on the floor above.
From several angles, the tower appears to
be cylindrical, although the plan is actually
kidney-shaped, which allowed longer, gentler
curvilinear expanses for the generously
proportioned apartments, many of which
have two balconies. Even so, the reinforced-
concrete column-and-slab structure and the
enclosing walls rely on faceted planes, insteadHOVER OVER The apartment tower’s expansive terrraces overlook the Lez River, which runs through the city (above). For a few duplexes, the architects provided a stair to connect
the balconies (opposite, top). The balconies, held to the shaft by tie rods, offer ample opportunity for socializing between the floors (opposite, bottom).
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