Situated just outside the town of Meaux, the shopping centre can be accessed via three major roads and thus enjoys exceptional accessibility. The project drew on the elements of the surrounding area to create a diversified landscape: it fits with the colorful fields of geometrically apportioned agricultural land, the winding meanders of the Ourcq Canal and the buildings of various shapes and sizes to create a fragmented and diversified landscape.
On the southern side a metal totem welcomes visitors as well as inhabitants and orients them on site. Its conception was a technical challenge and an inventive architectural design.
The countryside reaches into the site: banks, green roofs, planted pergolas, wooded areas and filtration ponds form links between the surrounding environment and the project. Far from being a solitary unit placed upon its land, the project is designed as a landscape, a humanized territory, where people live and work. It was redesigned to form a multitude of links between nature and urbanity. The main walkway winds amid different volumes and is covered with an immense skylight with a visible metal structure. This creates a protected promenade enjoying a constant natural light. Visitors can stroll among the mall’s shops on two levels - on a low road and a high street. They can also enjoy recreation areas or indoor and outdoor seating - suitable for rest, meetings or events. The project heavily favors landscaped areas, they span 42 000 square meters, on top of which there are 29 300 m² of green roofing.
Arte Charpentier led the architecture, interior design and landscaping missions on the project.
