The leading business district in Europe, in terms of the number of employees, will be transformed into “an urban park of seven hectares”. In any case, this is the project of the management of Paris La Défense, defended this Sunday, February 7 in the JDD.
“We are going to increase our investments in public space by 40%, or 360 million euros over ten years”, explained Pierre-Yves Guice, CEO of Paris La Defense at the JDD, which ensures that the revegetation will soon be “very visible”.
“A real urban park”
His project ? “Gradually transforming the Esplanade de la Défense into a real urban park of seven hectares by amplifying the place of plants, transforming the ground, animating spaces, while preserving and enhancing its heritage”. In an area going from Coeur-Défense to Pont de Neuilly.
This new entirely vegetated space will then take the name of “Park. “A promise” made to all users of the business district, whether they are residents, employees, traders or even students to offer them “an improved living environment”, “with new places of conviviality and sharing” for “new unusual and unexpected uses”.
With more than 150 new trees planted under the plane trees and the creation of 13 veritable above ground gardens, # ParisLaDéfense continues the transformation of the Esplanade into a 7 hectare park! https://t.co/c3RV4lI5NA pic.twitter.com/z0fBrk2rI6
– Paris La Defense (@ParisLaDefense) November 9, 2020
DELIVERY SCHEDULED BETWEEN 2026 AND 2027
For this, the management of Paris La Défense called on a renowned landscaper, Michel Desvigne (MDP agency), responsible for “lasting transformation” of the esplanade. An “exciting project” according to the words of the one who intends to make the site “more welcoming”, via the return to a “biodiversity found in the undergrowth”.
No question of putting a few flower boxes to act as “greening”. Michel Desvigne wants to use an entire ecosystem – shrubs, ferns or even moss – capable of adapting to a soil that does not consist of full ground. And this, “even if it lasts only a generation and a half”.
Studies will be carried out until the end of 2021, before work begins immediately. In total, a budget of 30 million must be allocated specifically to this project, the delivery of which is scheduled between 2026 and 2027.
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Towards the arrival of the RER Eole
In the long term, despite the crisis, the managing director of Paris La Defense wants to believe that the attractiveness of the famous business district will remain intact and is counting on the arrival of the RER E “Éole” in 2023, then of the Grand Paris Express in 2030 to ensure that it does not run out of steam.
When the RER arrives, the La Défense crossroads will in turn be redesigned, so that the two monumental works of art there are magnified. : Calder’s spider and Miro’s characters. In the middle of them, the vast central space will be redesigned to host festivals and other outdoor events.
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