In Paris, where qualitative and affordable housing, historical building preservation and mixed-use programmes are high on the agenda, a project like Tati Barbès demonstrates that all of these objectives can be achieved at the same time. 

With a design that respects the iconic building and maintains a maximum of existing structures, combined with a programme that responds to the human, social and cultural needs of the district, Immobel France – together with Studio Belem Architects – won the Tati Barbès competition organised by the City of Paris, together with the private owners of the building. 

Malik Lemseffer and Edouard Bettencourt, founders of Studio Belem, explain: “Several generations of people from all social backgrounds have shopped at this Tati store. It was more than just a shop: it was an experience; a genuine symbol of its time. And it was Immobel’s express wish to revive that diversity and unique character, and integrate it in the new 8,000 square metre Tati Barbès project.”

The project consists of several buildings. The corner building, with its iconic façade, will house a cultural space on the ground floor and the underground floors, and new offices in the upper stories. The design also includes a hotel and some retail, and reintroduces a residential function into the buildings, with 30% preserved for social housing. To ensure maximum comfort for all users, special attention was paid to luminosity, qualitative materials and a premium finishing – in line with the BREEAM certificate Excellent level, to which the project aspires. 

We are very excited that we can contribute, together with Immobel, to ‘Réinventer Paris’ with this legendary Tati project

Malik Lemseffer and Edouard Bettencourt,
founders of Studio Belem

“We also ensured that users can enjoy some outdoor space, which in the past two years has proven to be vital for the overall well-being of people,” the architects continue. “All new apartments situated at the rear of the block on Rue Bervic have an outdoor terrace with stunning views of the Sacré-Coeur, while the 180 square metre rooftop terrace with plenty of greenery will become an attractive communal meeting place for all residents.” 

As Paris is the so-called ‘15-minute city’ – aiming to offer Parisians all essential stores and facilities within a 15-minute reach – the architects analysed the commercial offering already present in the neighbourhood and proposed various sizes of retail premises. This enables a range of different retail activities from a bakery, florist or greengrocery to bigger furniture or fashion stores. 

The transformation of the Tati Barbès complex lifts this iconic location to a higher level and makes it future-proof. And this is exactly what the ‘Réinventer Paris’ (Reinventing Paris) process intends: rethinking and reshaping the way Parisians live, work and play. 

“We are very excited that we can contribute, together with Immobel, to ‘Réinventer Paris’ with this legendary Tati project,” Edouard and Malik conclude.