Paris, France - The busy D50 connects the city of Paris with Parc de l'Aire des Vents and the 2024 Olympic Media Village. It is a wide road, located close to the neighborhood 'La Comète'. The air quality along this road and in the La Comète neighborhood is poor and needs to be improved. Within the city's vision to drastically green Paris and to create a green connection between the Media Village, the park, the La Comète neighborhood, and the rest of the city, the idea emerged to make this a green, friendly place for both neighborhood residents and visitors.
| Location | Paris, France |
| Team | Bas Dijkhoff, Inge Noten, Hans Smolenaers |
| In collaboration with | Arcadis France |
| Copyright images | Arcadis |
In collaboration with Arcadis France, Arcadis Landscape Architecture and Urban Design was asked to create a conceptual design for the park, to demonstrate the possible transformation and the atmosphere and benefits this transformation could bring.
The park's design consists of three ovals that follow one another along the length of the park. Each oval has its own identity and program. Oval 1, 'La Place,' is characterized by elements of a traditional French village square, a meeting place with various benches, pétanque courts, and a fountain. Oval 2, 'Jeux et Sports,' invites young and old to be active, with various fitness equipment, a playground, and a small soccer field. Oval 3, 'La Scène,' features a small kiosk for street performances and a pavilion where people can get drinks. The three ovals are recessed, providing good visibility. The soil removed from the ovals is used to create small hills on the edges of the park, adding a greener character and screening the surrounding infrastructure from view. Different types of trees, with various blooming periods, create a dynamic image for each oval throughout the year.
Sustainable mobility is a priority. The D50 will be reduced from a 4-lane to a 2-lane road, and a high quality bike path will be added. The park will also feature a large bike parking facility.
The result is a conceptual design for a park that partly replaces the D50 and better connects the La Comète neighborhood, Parc de l'Aire des Vents, and the Olympic Media Village with each other and with the rest of Paris. The air quality will improve, and noise pollution will be drastically reduced if this design is implemented. A worthy addition to the greening efforts that Paris is set to undertake.
