Since the 18th Century, the follies of Montpellier have been markers for the architectural history of the city. The Follies helped to add new ways of living, new features, new programs in the city, giving it a significant value and broadening its appeal for both residents and visitors. Follies of the 21st Century are an opportunity to affirm the centrally metropolitan Montpellier while reaffirming its commitment to creativity, innovation and architectural audacity, forming new urban landmarks whilst providing added value to the city. They are objects that are therefore used as reflections of the innovative attitude of the city.

What Follie should be built in the 21^st Century? What story shall it tell and how? How could this form react with the site, with its neighbourhood and its territory? Could we reflect, in some way, the current state of urban Montpellier?

The overall result is a vertical village. Breaks between volumes bring in natural light and views which sometimes lead to collective terraces. The different neighbourhoods are articulated in different colours ensuring that each programme is visually enhanced and easily identified.

The integration of the building into its environment is a decisive factor in the creation of public space. The tower is anchored to the neighbourhood by its ground floor which focuses shops, activities and inputs of housing.

Different entities of the foot of the tower have their own courtyard / gardens extending their gateways to the site boundaries. These courts express and emphasize the programmatic mix within. Given the proximity of the Faculty of Montpellier, a student residence was integrated into the lower levels of the tower - reinforcing the generational and social diversity of the Vertical Village. A common area of 150m2 is situated on the ground floor including a restaurant. On the upper levels, each volume indicates a "neighbourhood" of student housing with its own public square with common spaces.