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Biography
Avenier Cornejo architectes is based in Paris. Miguel Cornejo, a chilean-french architect, was born in Santiago of Chile in 1974 and completed his studies at the Architectural School of Paris Malaquais. He alternated missions for Mathias Klotz in Chile and collaborated wih french agencies such as Roche & Sie (François Roche), XTU or Galiano Simon. In 2003 he created the agency AVENIER CORNEJO ARCHITECTS in association with Christelle Avenier.
After winning the Electra Prize (Electricite de France) the agency reached public projects like social housing and equipements: 10 social housing for the RIVP in Paris, a kindergarden in the 20th neighbourhood of the city and a Day-care and young workers hostel at Porte de Lilas in the north of Paris. The agency built also a wooden family house in Orsay (Maison 2G). In 2013 Avenier Cornejo was selected by WALLPAPER Magazine in their Architects Directory. At the moment the agency has several housing projects in progress such as 145 housing projects in Paris Batignolles, 38 housing projects in Clichy la Garenne and 14 social housing in St Maur street in Paris.
Location: rue des Orteaux, Paris 75020, France
Client: City of Paris
Team: Avenier Cornejo architectes
Photo credits: David Foessel
Early childhood is a key stage of human development. You could also say that building one’s first public building is an important step in an architect’s career. When I think about building a child-care centre, I immediately start thinking about certain concepts: games, scale, awakening, parent-child relationships and the role that French society today grants architects in this pursuit. This is because, paradoxically, these places that should be all about discovery and freedom are often just overprotective environments produced by a series of exaggerated, hyperhygienic standards. Yet we all think of and see projects from other countries (Japan, Spain, etc.) that overflow with playful and libertarian ideas and don’t seem limited by the same rules and constraints.