Biotope

A biotope is a geographical region providing the conditions for a particular ecological community. It was also our ambition in the design of the new home for the Métropole Européenne de Lille, and the project’s only appropriate title.

Recreating the office typology through its biophilic value, Biotope offers a range of outdoor experiences at every level of the building while reinforcing the green infrastructure surrounding Lille’s city center. The building creates visual and physical continuity to support nature in the urban environment.

Transforming the typical office program into a unique circular environment, the building supports people, animals, and local nature alike. A prominent addition to the bustling corridor between the Grand Palais Convention Center and the Regional Council for the Hauts-de-France Region, Biotope actively connects the large green areas around the city into one network through which flora and fauna can flow.

The serpentine floor plan follows a figure-eight path – a stark departure from the traditional corridor-style office building. Instead, employees circulate through a winding trail of sky-bridges, balconies, and rooftop gardens. Every floor has access to outdoor space, creating an equal and democratic distribution of nature across the office. Employees seated on any balcony are surrounded by the transparent interior façade, creating an open view of the municipality at work, and reflecting the circular office environment.

Glass facades link interior office spaces seamlessly with the numerous outdoor spaces populating the building’s exterior. Ending up on one of the open-air balconies lining the interior perimeter or a rooftop garden is inevitable by design; offering employees a comfortable environment to take restful moments surrounded by the sights and scents of biophilic design.