Equilis in Batinfo
The Equilis building unveils a living interior architecture: between nature, material, and reuse
The agency Volume ABC, led by Aliénor Bechu, has designed a fluid and vegetal interior architecture within the Equilis building in Issy-les-Moulineaux (92). Conceived as a natural continuity between the street, the hall, and the garden, the intervention combines transparency, curves, and sustainable materials to offer an immersive, convivial, and resolutely contemporary experience.
For Aliénor Bechu: “The approach was to align with the architectural intention, that is to open the building onto the street, with a vast opening carved into the façade, in continuity with the planted atrium. The sense of transversality extends all the way to the restaurant, with a transparency that is fully desired and embraced.”
A true harmony unfolds on the ground floor as we enter the hall
The horizontal striations guide the visitor’s eye toward the planted heart and the restaurant.
A terrazzo floor is outlined along its edges by a terracotta-coloured carpet ring, establishing a subtle connection with the surrounding environment. A monumental chandelier, designed specifically for the building, enhances the ensemble. The use of curved lines contributes to the formal coherence of the project and subtly guides perception while naturally drawing the gaze toward the centre. Moreover, layers are revealed through a play of artificial light brushing the walls. These layers are composed of a decorative coating made from stone powder – an eco-responsible material – developed in collaboration with Signature Mural. Another decorative coating was created to produce a concrete effect, its vibrant texture achieved by adding sand evocative of microcrystals. On the upper landings without natural light, the curve of the hall is reinterpreted through the suspended ceilings and flexible flooring – the same applies to Hall B. Thus, light is introduced through the ceiling by a delicate terracotta-coloured luminous curve. This light is accentuated by the addition of directional light rails, which emphasise the form and create a theatrical ambience.
For Aliénor Bechu: “A very strong connection is created with nature, both through the materials used and the colours. Indeed, the entrance hall reflects the hues of the earth, from floor to ceiling, as if we were entering a cave, leading us to the planted atrium.”
A chromatic touch
This terracotta chromatic touch is also present in the restrooms (with a tiled floor imitating terrazzo and a play of ceramics, very warm), and in the elevators, creating continuity and coherence.
The notion of service occupies a central place in this hall: a generous bench takes centre stage and creates lounge areas to encourage encounters. The reception desk is reimagined as a communal table, in a desire to desacralise the traditional welcome. The entrance is arranged as a lounge area connected to the coworking space and complemented by a phone box. Around the ring marked on the floor, garden-style benches are displayed so that users or visitors can settle and feel connected to the nature opposite, offered by the external light well.
The restaurant, which follows the continuity of the hall and the other spaces, was conceived with the intention of maintaining the architectural signal. Thanks to the idea of a central counter, the central island extends the transversality between the street and the garden. The notion of modularity is also preserved, allowing privatization by means of curtains and the creation of workspaces during other times of the day. The floor features a combination of bicolour terrazzo tiles and flexible surfaces, harmonised in shades of green and brick. The benches were custom-designed as an echo of the concept of biophilia, as they are adorned with plants.
Terraces and restaurants
On the restaurant terrace, conviviality remains ever-present with a festive atmosphere enhanced by tables where it is possible to work in the evening thanks to the outdoor lighting.
In the extension of the hall, the Food Barista creates a warm and convivial atmosphere in the same terracotta, green, and beige tones. With a monumental bar – featuring folded sheet metal in three different scales and polished to reflect the floor – and an integrated display cabinet, the space opens itself to visitors. Dotted with plants in terracotta pots and complemented by an acoustic niche, this area invites both exchange and work. In the meeting rooms and creative labs, the design vocabulary draws more from the domestic realm. Indeed, these rooms are adorned with majestic bookshelves filled with books and objects, large wooden work tables, chests of drawers, and more. The soft ambience is achieved through the use of flexible flooring and extensive acoustic treatment composed of micro-perforated panels. The Equilis building in Issy-les-Moulineaux is a project managed by PIMCO Prime Real Estate France.
