La Serre is a pioneering mixed-use housing project located in the ZAC Léon Blum eco-district of Issy-les-Moulineaux, just outside Paris. Designed by the Dutch architectural firm MVRDV in cooperation with landscape architect Alice Tricon and developer OGIC, La Serre seeks to redefine urban living through its bold integration of nature with architecture.
The project consists of an 18-storey tower housing 190 apartments, with 30% dedicated to social housing, and includes retail spaces on the ground floor. Each unit—from studios to four-bedroom apartments—features a private balcony or terrace, and the building is enveloped by nearly 3,000 square meters of outdoor greenery. The steel rack framework supports the extensive vegetation, with 390 trees set to be planted across the facades, offering residents a vertical village experience and fostering biodiversity.
La Serre’s animated, open facade is designed to enhance both social and ecological sustainability by encouraging interaction among residents through shared gardens, footbridges, and a communal rooftop garden with panoramic city views. Around 25% of the building’s usable space is dedicated to terraces and balconies, giving each resident approximately 15 square meters of outdoor space. The project is intended to serve as a genuine urban oasis and village square, blurring the lines between private and communal areas, and demonstrating a new approach to blending urban density with natural environments. Completion is anticipated in 2026.