Maud Caubet Architectes completed the Racine Tower project in Paris‘s 12th arrondissement. This ambitious undertaking transformed the former headquarters of the Office National des Forêts (ONF), a 35-meter-high tower built in 1970, into a striking new structure. The project’s extensions and a new architectural crown mark a dramatic metamorphosis. The total project area spans 6,081 m², with a cost of €24 million.
Nestled in Paris’s 12th arrondissement near the Sorbonne Nouvelle campus, the Racine project occupies a primarily residential neighborhood. The program revolved around repurposing the ONF’s former headquarters—originally designed in 1970 by architects Deschler, Thieulin, and de Vigan—into offices for OPCO EP, a semi-public vocational training organization.
The Racine Tower, a relic of brutalist architecture and an era of slab-based urban planning, initially relied on heavily artificialized ground levels. The project’s mission to reclaim fertile soil led to a reinterpretation of the site’s design.
What began as a vision for a graduated garden evolved into terraced landings that harmonize with natural surroundings. A productive green roof spanning 175 m² ensures the renaturation of the site, balancing the densification introduced by the renovations.
The redesign replaced two parking levels out of the building’s five underground floors with vibrant living spaces illuminated by natural light. A large, curved patio—12 meters deep—was also created, redefining interior spaces and connecting them to the terraced garden. Additionally, the parking ramp was transformed into an unconventional area with direct access to the patio.
The contemporary extension, which wraps the building and flows around the site’s majestic trees, mirrors the original architecture’s curves while preserving its iconic silhouette.
Flexibility was a key principle in the project’s design, ensuring the tower could accommodate future transformations with minimal effort. Its repetitive slab-post grid and strategically placed vertical circulation elements support a range of potential uses, from offices to housing, coliving spaces, or even hotel services. Double-height extensions and a bioclimatic greenhouse further enhance the building’s functionality.
This flexibility allows the Racine Tower to become a fully integrated living environment, supporting a diverse range of activities, from work and study to recreation and gardening. It’s a place where residents can live, love, and grow—creating a space that evolves with its occupants’ needs.
The 10th floor’s former attic has been replaced with a wooden architecture housing a greenhouse. This luminous crown serves as an educational space for urban agriculture and includes a café open to all building users. Offering stunning views of Paris, the glass structure transforms into a glowing lantern for the community at night.
Cover image: Jean Francois Dary Colonna
Photography: Laurent Kronental
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