# 18 rue Pradier

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://paragraph.com/@brandondonnelly), 2025-05-28

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I continue to be amazed that cities, like Paris, can make small housing projects, [like this one at 18 rue Pradier](https://www.archdaily.com/1030342/pradrier-15-housing-units-mobile-architectural-office), work.

The site is approximately 277 m2:

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/a9c32f75369cb0d7dd754b253def1ea6.png)

And yet, social housing developer [Seqens](https://www.seqens.fr) built 8 floors, 15 apartments, and even used a stone facade with built-in sun shades on the windows.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/eeb2bd8b4ce22a9e6e8945f16f69b7ee.jpg)

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/81e011f79b0eba23193fdafbd4df99af.jpg)

The total building area is approximately 1,030 m2 (~11,086 ft2). That's an average of 1,385 ft2 per floor, which would be unthinkable here in Toronto with our two required means of egress.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/ceeaab845068defc44c57a5ba90d9398.jpg)

So let's consider some of the math.

My internet sleuthing tells me that this site [last sold on December 6, 2018 for €3,950,000](https://www.bercail.com/paris/75019/rue-pradier/18). That works out to ~€263k per door or €356 per buildable square foot. This is a wild land basis!

So is it that construction costs are that much lower or that the project received heavy subsidies? Maybe it's both. I shall continue sleuthing.

_Project photography by_ [_Cyrille Lallement_](https://www.cyrillelallement.com) _via_ [_ArchDaily_](https://www.archdaily.com/1030342/pradrier-15-housing-units-mobile-architectural-office)_; building section from_ [_Mobile Architectural Office_](https://www.m-a-o.fr)

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://paragraph.com/@brandondonnelly/18-rue-pradier)*