Context & Vision
First Line is a comprehensive redevelopment in the historic center on a high riverbank. Once a vital river-to-rail junction, the site required renewal as its wooden structures deteriorated. The project transforms this former industrial-residential area into a contemporary urban destination while meticulously preserving the site’s historical identity.

Architectural Response to Topography
The primary challenge—a 40-meter elevation change—is embraced as the project’s greatest asset. Residential blocks are strategically placed at different levels, creating a cascading composition of diverse landscapes. This tiered arrangement forms a renewed riverfront facade and a sophisticated landmark that respects the natural relief, allowing courtyards to extend naturally into the surrounding green hills.

Connectivity & The Human Scale
The master plan functions as a “dialogue” between past and future, preserving tram tracks and an administrative building while renovating the existing school. Modular urban blocks clearly distinguish between public and private spaces. Buildings form an active street frontage with commercial functions to foster “life at eye level,” while internal “mini-plazas” encourage social interaction through art and shared space.

Materiality & Symbolic Identity
The facade design highlights the identity of the complex through three distinct color and pattern codes, improving wayfinding and creating a sense of individuality. The use of durable facade materials—metal, brick, and stone—ensures they age gracefully, maintaining the project’s relevance for decades. The copper-bronze color references the site’s industrial context, recalling railway freight containers and port cranes. The gray-brown color symbolizes continuity in the area’s development and evokes the memory of former wooden houses. The beige color reflects the tone of river sand and emphasizes the connection to the natural landscape.

Living Scenarios
The complex offers a diverse range of apartment types, from one-bedroom units to penthouses with terraces. Layouts are engineered to take advantage of views toward the river and the urban landscape. Many units feature triple-aspect corner living rooms and three windows facing different directions, providing abundant natural light. Rooms include French balconies or corner balconies oriented either toward the courtyard or the river.

First Line is an “urban resonator” that amplifies social connectivity and offers a refined approach to quality of life. The synergy of bold architectural form, ecological sensitivity, and a focus on the human scale makes it a meaningful contribution to the evolution of the contemporary living environment.