Institut Interdisciplinaire Santé des femmes – Bâtiment Tarnier, rue d’Assas

In the 6th arrondissement of Paris, a new institute dedicated to women’s health will unite research, training, and care within a single ecosystem. Reflecting the agency’s expertise, the research architect engages the broader socio‑ecological transformation of healthcare architecture and national heritage.

Integrated within a broader academic and hospital network, the institute brings together reception, research, training, housing, and support facilities dedicated to women’s health. Organizing intersecting user flows through clear circulation and flexible spatial planning, the research architect optimized space with added mezzanines and the reclaimed inner courtyards.

The project ensured that the spatial elements of the heritage building foster exchange and care. Generous circulation areas become “learning galleries,” and the restored garden serves as both a biodiversity refuge and a cooling oasis. Passive systems — thermal chimneys and night ventilation — ensure summer comfort, while flexible layouts support collective, adaptive learning.

Opening directly onto the garden, the cafeteria occupies the restored former lecture hall, now reimagined as a space for informal exchange and events. The research architect ensured the project preserved the site’s architectural fabric while meeting tertiary building standards, with housing units certified NF Habitat HQE Paris and BBCA Renovation.