"Breathing new life into a forgotten neighborhood in Saint Louis—that was the goal of the collaboration between Collectif Parenthese, Atelier Approches, and architect Rajh Sevagamy. This transitional urban planning project did not stop at construction; it first sought to understand local practices through the lens of gender.
The assessment conducted by Atelier Approches and Rajh Sevagamy revealed a striking contrast: despite the neighborhood’s richness and vibrant community life, residents and organizations sorely lacked spaces to sustain their interactions.
In response, the Collectif Parenthese designed and built a multipurpose multicultural hall. Serving as a true social bridge, this facility now provides a structured framework for community initiatives and local association programs.

A mural paying tribute to women was created with local artists, serving as a visual symbol of the multicultural hall and affirming its identity within the neighborhood.
In addition, the creation of urban lounges on the ground floor aims to support residents’ daily activities, transforming the building’s lower level into a true hub of life and interaction.

Originally conceived as a participatory initiative, the Collectif Parenthese opened its construction site to residents. This collaboration transformed the site into a vibrant hub of activity; with construction workshops, painting sessions, community meals, and concerts, the site became a highlight of the neighborhood, marked by a deep sense of camaraderie.

The project incorporates a strong focus on reuse by anticipating demolitions planned as part of future urban development. In advance, the Collectif Parenthese, Rajh Sevagamy, and the city selected materials to be repurposed for temporary installations. For example, the wooden frames of old kiosks were salvaged to serve as the structures for new street furniture. Similarly, a facade from a community sports center was removed and reworked to serve as a canvas for a mural, while rubble from concrete benches that would have hindered future development was reused to fill gabion walls...
Given the reliance on imported materials, it was essential to highlight certain local resources and expertise from Réunion. This approach was realized through the creation of a vetiver roof, built with the help of local residents, as well as the use of bamboo caning for the shade structures of the multicultural hall. This initiative was made possible thanks to the association Centre d’insertion et d’animation sportive et culturelle de la Petite France.

This experimental phase resulted in a detailed assessment of the use of these temporary facilities, conducted by Atelier Approches and Rajh Sevagamy. This strategic document will now serve as the foundation for the master plan of the future urban project.

Team:

Architects: Collectif Parenthèse

Collaborators: l'Atelier Approches, Rajh Sevagamy 

Photographer: © Elolivia Studio