a public space at the heart of the city
location
Metz / France
client
Ville de Metz
programme
replanning and landscaping the Place de la République and access to underground car parking
area
40.000 m2
cost
22 M€
architect
Richez_Associés
consultant
Egis Aménagement
landscape architect
Atelier Villes et Paysages
lighting designer
Observatoire 1
water features
JML Consultants
Prix Lumière 2011
sustainable approach
_ planting adapted to climate, soil, aspect
_ rainwater management
Press
The Place de la République, formerly the Place d’Armes, has been liberated from the giant car park that once dominated it, and is now reconfigured for the benefit of pedestrians and public transport; all the city’s bus routes converge here.
Alongside the built-up sides of the place, two generous pedestrian corridors extend the central paved area towards the bus interchange. A nine-metre wide lane ensures the smooth flow of bus traffic and easy access for passengers for each bus, including the ‘Mettis’, Metz’s bus rapid transit system with its dedicated bus stop. In the middle of the Place de la République, connected to the existing park by a walkway and a ‘wall of water’ feature, a huge open space is designed to accommodate fairs, circuses, markets and exhibitions.