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our awards.

It is through this combination of experienced best-practice techniques and innovation that we have continued to consistently deliver world-leading outcomes to a wide range of clients from a variety of nations and backgrounds.

The Synergine Architecture Team recently won the international BB Green award for sustainability in the Paris Affordable Housing Challenge. Our scheme looked at utilizing abandoned land along the rail trench previously known as Le Petite Ceinture (Little Belt).

award.

BB Green Award

project name.

La Ceinture Vivante
The Living Belt

Emerging from the dense urban fabric of Paris, a rail loop once serving the city wall is prime for the regenerative development. Le Petite Ceinture (the Little Belt) is a mostly subterranean rail trench, carved through the urban network of Paris. Yet today, it is largely unused detereorating as nature takes its course.
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Concurrently, Paris is facing a massive demand for rental properties as landlords prefer targeting the lucrative tourist market. There is also a push to de-gentrify the inner-city and break the trend of low-income families being forced into the cheaper, outlying North-Eastern suburbs. However, due to the high density and land prices of the inner arrondissements, this is a difficult challenge to address.

This proposal suggests a solution lies in reactivating the rail line through calculated urban fabric and promote cross-cultural living. A commitment to sustainability and the human-scale sees a proposal that utilises renewable resources and enhances the lives of the people who live there.

DESIGN LANGUAGE AND SUSTAINABILITY

 

The rich cultural history of Paris is expressed through elements of the intricate façade. Exterior latticework extends above the gutter line to form dormer roofs in true Parisian style. Local industrial buildings and rail way buildings express their structural function boldly. The net-like laminated timber diamond grids draped over the form reference these structures as well as the long heritage of wine making in the region and local vineyards still present in the adjacent Georges-Brassens Park.

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The proposal reactivates low cost ‘forgotten’ land, increases density and reinvigorates the landscape. Low running costs are achieved by allowing the buildings to breathe through cross ventilation. Renewable energy sources are utilized with all roof spaces orientated for optimum solar collection. Rainwater collection and reuse is made possible with storage tanks located at the lower levels behind the retail tenancies. Where possible, lightweight adaptive structural members cling to existing built features to anchor the structures and reduce the expense of foundations.

Other Awards.

Arthur Mead Memorial Environmental Award

Onehunga High School Sports fields

Roles: Business Case, Project Management, Infrastructure Design, Construction Management

ACENZ Gold Award of Excellence

New Lynn Rail Trench

Roles: Business case, Utilities Design, Stakeholder Management, ECI Management

Certificate of Appreciation

From the Mayor and CEO of Waitakere City Council - LTP

Roles: Programme Management

Landscape of the Year award

At the World Architecture Festival for Kopupaka Park

Roles: Project Management

NEXT Summit Certificate of Merit

For iwi engagement on the NorSGA Project

Roles: Programme Management, Stakeholder Management, Project Controls

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