The Monolith is a mixed use building by Erick van Egeraat for ING Real Estate Development France in collaboration with French architects Combarel-Marrec, Manuelle Gautrand, Pierre Gautier and the Dutch architect Winy Maas. This superblock is part of the urban renewal project Lyon Confluence. This inner urban renewal project transforms a derelict former industrial area into a contemporary element of Lyon’s city center.

For this project of 32,000 m2 each of the five participating architect designed a specific section of the building. Erick van Egeraat designed the Northeastern entrance section of 7,000 m2. The section consist of offices and apartments with an elevated entrance and underground car park. Special attention was given in accentuating the façade which is primarily constructed in glass and wood. An irregular pattern accentuated by vertical wooden fins introduces a surprising element which counteracts with largely horizontal orientation of the other sections. The building has been designed to be sustainable in its construction and use. This superblock is one of the key-elements of the Lyon Confluence development. Due to its sheer scale it forms a strong and vital urban element.