in Paris, La Poste is transforming its old sorting centers into unique living spaces

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After the renovation of the old Louvre Post Office, that of Magenta is nearing completion. Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis in Paris (10th), the red brick building built in 1965 is preparing to open a new page in its history. By the start of 2025, social housing and private housing will be able to welcome their first tenants. Two and a half years of construction and 1.2 million euros in work costs were necessary to transform this former La Poste sorting center.

Maintain verticality

On the east side, 35 social housing units have been developed. On the west side, 48 private apartments are intended for rental. A new building was constructed near this wing of the building. La Poste Immobilier, project owner, with the architectural agency Naud&Poux and the company Paris Ouest Construction carried out this construction project. conversion of heritage building located a stone's throw from the Gare de l'Est. “Same organization, same operation and same quality of use” were designed by the architects who aimed to “not differentiate social housing from private housing”, underlines Elizabeth Naud. Only “a few small variations in services” distinguish the two types of apartments.

We have crossing housing oriented north-south and others which are east-west. All the work was to maintain the large verticalities without touching the brick.

Under the apartments intended for Toit & Joie, the lessor of La Poste, and those sold to CDC Investissement Immobilier, on behalf of Caisse des Dépôts, a coworking space and a new post office were developed. They themselves are located next to a “soft mobility space” large enough to store all the residents’ bicycles “and no longer put them on the balconies,” laughs Luc Poux. In the basement, 46 parking spaces and an urban logistics space of 1,000 m2 were included in the project to facilitate low-carbon delivery.

On the 650 m2 roof, to the panoramic view over the roofs of Paris and its monuments, earth extends over almost the entire terrace. A micro-forest and vegetable gardens will be installed and operated there by Cultures en Ville, winner of the “Parisculteurs” call for projects.

A district steeped in history

Brick veneer, stone and reinforced concrete… This former industrial site built in the 1960s by architect Jean-Baptiste Mathon was intended to be innovative. Above all, he wanted break with the past: in the 12th century, the district sheltered lepers before locking up, in the 18th century, women in Saint-Lazare prison. Louise Michel and Mata Hari have notably visited there. Today, the Françoise-Sagan media library – which adjoins the La Poste building – frames the Saint-Lazare square with its dark history.

The building housed a sorting center, a postal office and housing for postal workers for more than 50 years. After their departure, linked to the drop in mailings, the Aurore association was able to take advantage of the building to set up an emergency shelter center for four years. “We are trying to make our buildings available to associations while restructuring studies are carried out,” says Camille Gehin, deputy general director of La Poste Real Estate.

While waiting for tenants to arrive in the nine-story building, the owner is already looking towards his next renovation project. A former sorting center in the 9th arrondissement of Paris will in turn experience a facelift.

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