Perhaps you seek a haven a refuge from the city’s clamor? Look around. This is Villa Marie Éléonore. It is more than just a building. It is a Parisian institution.
Villa Marie Éléonore stands on Rue Paul Meurice. Specifically numbers 38-40. This location places it in Paris’s 20th arrondissement. Villa Marie Éléonore offers accommodation. It has a total capacity of 90 beds and places.
Villa Marie Éléonore operates as an EAME establishment. This acronym stands for Établissement d’Accueil Mère-Enfant. In English this means Mother and Child Reception Center. It falls under the umbrella of the Etablissement Parisien de l’Aide Sociale à l’Enfance. That is the Parisian Institution for Social Child Welfare. It is also known as the MAE Eleanor Roosevelt. This establishment reports to the Direction des Solidarités de la Ville de Paris. That translates to the Solidarity Directorate of the City of Paris.
The MAE Eleanor Roosevelt provides urgent protection. It operates day and night every day. That makes 365 days a year. It welcomes children aged 0 to 18. This is for initial reception. It also helps after a break in care.
The center aims to be a children’s home. It strives to be a place of welcome. It works to provide protection. The goal is to offer support and transition.
The focus is on family connections. These links should not break. Instead staff monitor them with care. They must ensure serenity. Villa Marie Éléonore seeks to avoid the sense of urgency for children. It aims to make every child feel protected.
Staff also work to continue a child’s right to education. In short it is a place for life to happen. The architects designed this house with that in mind. Each floor has a dedicated age group. Children evolve with calm at each level. They transition from introspection to group activities.
The location has major challenges. The plot’s heart faces north. The building’s program fits poorly with zoning plans. There may be a lack of light.
Architects envisioned an L-shaped building. It has stepped terraces. These face the plot’s heart. They provide recreational spaces. The outdoor areas get light. They offer open views. The slopes allow more light into the plot’s center.
The program has real organizational complexity. Each floor serves a function and unit. Designers mastered constraints. These related to different stacked functions. They also addressed various regulations. All this is within a homogeneous structure. Every floor has outdoor recreational space.
The fourth floor hosts a crèche. It has a protected play area. Pots of trees surround and create intimacy.
The building has a wood frame. Metal cladding covers it. The structure uses concrete. This includes columns beams and floors. The column-beam structure gives flexibility. This is important for diverse functions.
Exterior elements use white concrete. This concrete has a photocatalytic effect. It gives the concrete self-cleaning properties. This preserves the color. It maintains the aesthetic quality over time.
The materials resist alterations. They prevent degradation. This reduces the impact of weather and urban pollution.
White concrete ribbons alternate with golden aluminum shutters. These modulate openings. They provide sun protection on exposed facades. They act as protective filters. They maintain user privacy. They prevent unwanted views.
The facade treatment emphasizes unity. It uses consistent materials. These include white concrete black metal and golden aluminum. They adorn the entire children’s home.
Designers focused on the interior. It is articulated around a central staircase. This mimics a private mansion. They created custom furniture. Signage is part of this welcoming approach. A scenographer was involved. Unit names inspired scenic designs. Each entity has its own visual world.
Directional signs are illustration boards. Rococo-inspired frames embellish the artwork. They add sensitivity. They lend a poetic touch.
Pictograms describe each room’s function. These representations differ from typical signs. They offer a playful guessing game.
At the building’s entrance a vertical mural summarizes the architectural themes. It introduces visitors to the graphic world of the building. Villa Marie Éléonore is designed as a protective place for children. It balances safety with the needs of daily life.