SANAA Unveils La Samaritaine Renovation Plans Complete with Transparent Glass Facade

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Samaritaine" target="_blank">La Samaritaine</a> is a landmark department store in Paris on the Rue de Rivoli set to receive a major renovation at the hands of Pritzker Prize winning team <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010-pritker-prize-goes-to-sanaa/">SANAA</a>. The entire retail block is undergoing a massive transformation to encourage new and sustainable economic activity in the historic city center. The mismatched facades will remain mismatched, but one section will receive a major facelift with a completely <a href="http://inhabitat.com/prismatic-high-performing-jaqua-center-fosters-learning-at-the-university-of-oregon/">transparent glass facade</a> to encourage daylighting.

La Samaritaine original started back in 1870 and over the years grew and spread out to encompass an entire block.

Various architects and designers were involved over the years in construction and renovation of the block and now SANAA will be added to the list.

Their plans for the green renovation include a slew of updates with the objective of revitalizing the neighborhood's economic and commercial environment, creating sustainable jobs, stregthening the neighborhood residential character with social housing and a nursery, enhancing heritage of the area and improving the architecture by mixing both modern and heritage works.

The renovation will create space for 95 social housing apartments large enough for 250 people, 400 new jobs and a commercial revival.

Daylighting is an essential quality to the renovation and includes a contemporary facelift to the Rivoli Islet covering the building in a transparent glass facade.

Atriums and skylights will pull more light into the inner recesses of the building and an urban walk inside the building will allow a smooth transition from court to court.

SANNA's renovation also has great respect for the existing architecture and will include the refurbishment of the other buildings as well as the "Batiment Jourdain Verriere" and the great canopy and staircase.

Sustainability, energy efficiency and urban ecology are major factors in the renovation and the project includes an innovative environmental plan to satisfy the Paris Climate Plan requirements, seeking a number of certifications like HQE, BREEAM and even LEED.

Energy use will be reduced in the refurbished parts to 80 kWh/ep/m2/year and to 50 kWh/ep/m2/year in the new parts.

An efficient waste collection program is planned along with low waste during construction, new landscaping and even a green roof.

Construction is expected to begin sometime this summer.