This small tower has been built by Dominique Coulon, Olivier Nicollas, Benjamin Rocchi, and Steve Letho Duclos of the French architectural firm Dominique Coulon & Associés. It is located in the historic Krutenau district of Strasbourg, France, a district traditionally populated by boatmen and fishermen, and crisscrossed by canals. The tower covers an area of 500 square meters and was completed in 2015.
External view of the small towerStrasbourg has a number of what are known as hollow teeth, or vacant plots that are too small to be attractive, and thus be put to use. The consultation then called for the production, on a plot measuring just 120 square meters, of a building that would guarantee the achievement of high energy performances, the use of bio-sourced materials, and a mixed-purpose project housing offices and accommodation, as well as well as a kitchen garden and an organic swimming pool on the topmost terrace.
The façade of the building is clad in scorched wood (larch), a technique originating in Japan, where they scorch the outer surface of the material in order to extend its life. Orange and silver awnings cover some of the windows, granting the exterior a pop of color. The interior is vibrant and luminous, providing open spaces in which to partake in a variety of activities.
