Hôtel-Dieu – Paris, France

Established on the Île de la Cité since its foundation in the 7th century under the reign of Clovis II, the Hôtel-Dieu has undergone numerous demolitions and reconstructions over the course of its history. Its current configuration is the result of a project completed in 1879, designed by the architects Emile-Jacques Gilbert and Arthur-Stanislas Diet. Its restructuring, initiated by the AP-HP, aims to create a state-of-the-art hospital facility at the heart of this illustrious complex.

The existing buildings, arranged in a double comb layout around a central garden, have been preserved. The intelligence of the original system has been optimised thanks to a hierarchical organisation of traffic flows, responding to the complexity of hospital interactions. The longitudinal body houses the three levels of galleries and serves the major programme areas. The north, east and west wings have been restored and their morphology respected. The historic façades have been restored. The new entrance hall is located within the existing building, in a double-height glass-roofed volume housing a large spiral staircase.
The chapel, terraces and original staircases are among the remarkable architectural features that have been preserved. Two discreet extensions take place into the former courtyards. Their glazed, metal-clad materials, together with their green roofs, blend harmoniously with the heritage buildings. Innovation, efficiency, flexibility and sustainability are the hallmarks of the new facility.