In the heart of Paris’ 11th arrondissement, at 59 rue de Charonne, a slender 1930s glass roof once defining the former Wilmotte & Industries design studio has been given a second life. What was once admired for its Art Deco elegance, but endured for its poor insulation, has now been transformed into a high-performance architectural statement.

This 2024 rehabilitation was led with the same intellectual and aesthetic discipline that characterises Wilmotte & Associés, the internationally acclaimed practice founded by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Even though the property has since changed ownership, the agency approached its renovation with unwavering respect for material integrity, historical continuity, and contemporary performance standards.

The original steel T-sections structuring the roof were carefully preserved to maintain the building’s architectural identity. Yet behind this preserved silhouette lies a radical technical upgrade. The outdated single glazing has been replaced with ultra-slim FINEO vacuum insulating glass, achieving triple-glazing performance within a profile compatible with the 1930s metal framework.

The selected solution, FINEO 8 laminated with 4 mm clear toughened glass, combines discretion with resilience. The addition of toughened laminated glass ensures enhanced safety, particularly important for overhead glazing exposed to potential impact.

Installation was entrusted to Verre et Métal, a façade specialist whose craftsmanship bridges tradition and modernity, an essential ingredient for projects where precision is non-negotiable.

The breakthrough lies in the invisible: a sealed vacuum cavity of just 0.1 mm between two glass panes. This micro-space drastically limits thermal exchange while keeping the overall thickness to as little as 6.7 mm.

Performance highlights include:

• Ug-value: 0.7 W/(m²·K)
• Acoustic reduction (Rw): 36 dB, up to 45 dB in advanced laminated configurations
• Durability: laboratory-tested integrity exceeding 60 years

Beyond comfort, sustainability plays a central role. FINEO is the first vacuum insulating glazing to secure CE marking, CSTB Technical Approval, and an Environmental Product Declaration listed in the INIES database, achieving values as low as 18.9 kg CO₂ eq./m² in its low-carbon configuration.

For Wilmotte & Associés, renovation is never cosmetic. The agency’s philosophy of “contemporary grafting” seeks harmony between eras, where modern intervention enhances rather than competes with heritage.

The result at rue de Charonne is not merely a technical upgrade. It is a recalibration of experience. Natural light now enters without thermal discomfort. Acoustic calm replaces urban intrusion. Energy performance aligns with 21st-century standards, all while preserving the poised geometry of a 1930s Parisian atelier.