LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS Redevelopment of Les Halles - Paris
The project in brief
LES HALLES IN 2010
BROAD PUBLIC CONSULTATION
SETTING UP THE OPERATION
A PROJECT FIT FOR THE PARIS OF THE FUTURE
More open spaces for the public RESTORING UNITY TO THE CITY CENTRE
The gardens BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO THE CENTRE OF PARIS
The Canopy ARTICULATING UNDERGROUND AND OVERGROUND
The patio BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO LES HALLES
Entrance A BETTER WELCOME FOR THE INHABITANTS OF PARIS
The transport hub RE-INTEGRATING, RENEWING AND ENLARGING THE RER STATION
Interior layouts 29 LETTING DAYLIGHT INTO THE HEART OF THE FORUM
Redevelopment timeline
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LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 3
Over 30 years since the existing complex opened, Les Halles needs to be rebuilt and modernized due to heavy volumes of foot traffic, the ageing of its facilities and changes in safety regulations. As the premier point of access to the French capital - 750,000 rail passengers pass through it every day - the existing site is no longer fit for purpose as a major metropolitan structure.
The redevelopment project will give Les Halles the image its role deserves, improving the functionality of this monument to underground urbanism, re-integrating it in the urban environment and making it a more agreeable experience for everyone who uses it. After redevelopment, Les Halles will be more open to the city, easier to access, and more pleasant to walk in. There will also be more cultural facilities, more shops and more entrances to the station. This will make the whole quarter a friendlier place.
The redevelopment is neither a greenfield project nor a superficial makeover, but combines elements of urban planning, architectural creation and in-depth renovation. To help the surrounding quarter breathe better, the public areas on the surface will be reorganized, with the above-ground elements rebuilt, pedestrian access improved and increased, and underground areas reorganized.
New gardens that are a pleasure to visit; an extended pedestrian precinct; a new feature (the Canopy) that takes its inspiration from nature and connects the underground elements to the surface; simplified, more spacious pedestrian walkways; a bigger, more functional RER station; a brighter, more modern shopping centre; an improved subsurface road system, etc. As the heart of a hospitable, busy and dynamic city, the new-look Les Halles will have an image worthy of its role.
The project in brief
4 IIIII 4 IIIII
LES HALLES IN 2010
The point where all Parisconverges
Formerly dubbed the belly of Paris, Les Halles was a thriving,
bustling neighbourhood that was totally transformed in the 1970s
when its wholesale market relocated to Rungis and the RER
station was built in its place. An underground city began to take
shape here in the heart of Paris, its ramifications reaching into the
surrounding neighbourhood. By reducing travel times from the
outskirts to the city centre, the RER station made Les Halles the
principal gateway to Paris.
With 3 RER lines, 5 metro lines, 14 bus routes and 750,000
passengers from le-de-France and beyond passing through
it every day, the Chtelet-Les Halles transport interchange is
Europes busiest underground rail station.
The shopping centre benefits from its proximity to the RER station
and metro. Up to 150,000 people visit the centre every day.
At present, its the biggest shopping centre in the French capital.
The huge pedestrian precinct - one of the biggest in Europe
- gives unity to a quarter whose shopping streets throng with
300,000 people every day.
Every day a multitude of people - Parisians, commuters from
the suburbs and visitors to the French capital - pass through Les
Halles.
A confined, congested environment
Over thirty years since it opened, Les Halles is saturated and out
of date. It can no longer cope with the numbers of people passing
through it. The RER station and its approaches are congested, and
require major redevelopment to make them bigger, with modern
facilities and improved safety.
The gardens are cramped and lack unity. They offer zero
articulation with the main entrances to the RER station. Theyre
run down. Municipal facilities such as the conservatory and
library are ageing and looking increasingly forlorn beneath Jean
Willervals famous umbrellas.
8levels, 5 of them under street level
10hectares: Les Halles quarter
170shops in the Forum
4hectares: the gardens
22metres deep
750000passengers per day (RER + metro)
300000people per day in pedestrian precinct
150000shoppers in Les Halles Forum every day
17700inhabitants in the 1st arrondissement
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 5
With its underground and surface elements, station, gardens,
shops and public facilities, the site is amorphous without obvious
unity. Its difficult to find ones way around.
Pedestrian access routes, above and below street level, are
confusing and tortuous.
The site is extremely busy, and its structures have aged. New
regulations on safety in public establishments and underground
buildings have rendered it obsolete.
All that now remains of the historic site of Les Halles is the Bourse de Commerce.
Two of Baltards pavilions were dismantled and reassembled elsewhere: one in Nogent-sur-Marne,
the other in Yokohama, Japan.
A market since the 12th centuryThe history of Les Halles is inextricably linked with that of the government-run market which for centuries was the supply hub of the French capital and surrounding region.The first halle, or covered market, was the Halle aux draps or clothmakers market, built in 1183 on the site then known as Les Champeaux, where an immense open-air bazaar selling all kinds of produce had already operated for 5 years.The market flourished and new buildings were erected over the course of the years, forming a heterogeneous and densely-packed ensemble.The church of Saint-Eustache was built in the 16th century. The corn market opened in 1767, on the site now occupied by the Bourse de Commerce. In 1789, the cemetery of the Innocents was converted into a flower and fruit and vegetable market.
Plans to relocate Les Halles were aired as early as the 19th century, but were never implemented. Between 1852 and 1870 (and in 1936 in the case of the last ones), 12 pavilions of glass and iron were designed for the site by architect Victor Baltard.
The RER station and the metamorphosis of the 1970sWith the relocation of the wholesale food market to Rungis, the district of Les Halles changed beyond all recognition.The decision to relocate was made by the government in 1962, on the grounds that the site was no longer capable of meeting the needs of the fast-growing population of Paris and environs.This left a large vacant site right in the middle of Paris, and it was decided to build the hub of the regional express train network (RER) here. The RER station connects with the 3 major rail terminals of Paris and several
Les Halles yesterday
metro lines interface with several
metro lines.The market relocated in an enormous removals operation which took place on the night of 4-5 March 1969.Baltards pavilions were then used for cultural and festive events before being dismantled in 1971 and 1973, leaving the infamous hole of Les Halles in their place.The RER station opened in 1977. The original shopping centre - the old Forum, completed in 1979 - was replaced in 1985 by the new Forum with its cultural and sports facilities.The superstructures were completed in 1983 and the gardens laid out in 1986. The project was the largest underground development project ever undertaken in France, freeing up a surface area of 4 hectares right in the heart of Paris. The whole neighbourhood was transformed by the project.
CONSULTATION EXTENSIVE
Public consultation since 2002
In 2002, Ville de Paris took the decision to redevelop the neighbourhood
of Les Halles. When it issued its call for proposals, it also undertook an
ambitious public consultation campaign. Meetings bringing together
residents, local associations and project partners; public exhibitions;
permanent advisory committee chaired by a guarantor; theme-based
workgroups; an interactive area dedicated to the project, etc. For
8 years, the debate raised a large number of questions which fuelled
reflection by the projects owners and designers.
At the same time, the transport union of le-de-France opened
consultations on the restructuring of the RER terminus, in
accordance with legislation.
Transparency and dialogue assumed new forms in 2010 with the
design phase yielding to the construction phase.
A low nuisance, low environmental impact project charter
This charter was drawn up in 2011 and has been signed by Ville de Paris,
RATP and SemPariSeine. For project partners such as enterprises, this
charter constitutes a contractual commitment. Residents and traders
associations contributed to the formulation of the charter. Every
month, these associations report to a supervisory committee tasked
with enforcing the application of the charter on the specific problems
which construction work is causing in their neighbourhood. RATP and
SemPariSeine then inform the committee of the measures taken to
solve these problems.
The public is kept informed of the progress of the construction project
via internet (www.parisleshalles.fr), regular publications (newsflashes,
the magazine Demain les Halles, etc.), events and an information point
which is open 7 days a week from midday to 8 pm. Located near Fontaine
des Innocents, this information point features an exhibition on the Les
Halles project and construction site. Public information meetings are
regularly organized for local residents, commuters and neighbourhood
traders to keep them informed of how work is progressing.6 IIIII
5public exhibitions
18public meetings
8joint public surveys
60advisory meetings (5 meetings of the advisory committee, 39 workgroup meetings on specific topics, 16 meetings of the project charter supervisory committee)
(30th june 2012)
SETTING UP THE PROJECT
The partners
Given the multiplicity of functions concentrated on the site and
the interpenetration of the structures which house these functions,
the redevelopment project launched by Ville de Paris involves
four partners: le-de-France region, STIF (Syndicat des Transports
dle-de-France), RATP (the transport authority, responsible for the
operation of the transport hub), and Socit Civile du Forum des
Halles de Paris (responsible for the shopping centre).
The project is divided into sub-projects, each headed by a different
owner. For the urban planning facet of the project, Ville de Paris has
appointed SemPariSeine as awarding authority. SemPariSeine will
also be responsible for ensuring the general coherence of the whole
operation. For the transport project, STIF, Ville de Paris and RATP
have established a convention making RATP awarding authority.
Cost and funding
With a total estimated cost of 918 million euros plus tax (January
2009 estimate), the operation will be jointly funded by its partners.
The cost includes 164 million euros for the transport hub project
Ville de Paris (83 million euros before tax), le-de-France region
(56 million euros before tax), RATP (25 million euros before tax).
Unibail-Rodamco and AXA (Socit Civile du Forum des Halles)
will contribute with 238 million euros, as stated in the agreements
reached with Ville de Paris in November 2010. They will also
contribute an additional 25 million euros from their own funds.
The transport hub project will be financed by Ville de Paris, le-de-
France region, STIF and RATP. The respective contributions made
by each partner were still under discussion as of late 2010.
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 7
Three clients Ville de Paris>> Renovation of gardens.>> Construction of Canopy>> Reconstruction of surface road system.>> Reconstruction of subsurface road system.>> Reconstruction of vertical communications on site, not including RER entrances.>> Reconstruction of rue Berger car park in articulation with the new entrance on place Marguerite de Navarre.
RATP>> Creation of a new entrance in place Marguerite de Navarre >> Extension of entrances on rues Berger and Rambuteau to the RER station.>> Reconstruction and enlargement of RER passenger concourse.
La Socit Civile du Forum des Halles de Paris>> Conversion of underground north-south road link into a commercial facility.>> Renovation and modernization of internal circulation routes.
A new approach to planning for a livelier city
The redevelopment of Les Halles goes well beyond architecture to
take in aspects of urban planning. The challenge is how to make a
site which serves Paris region worthy of Paris as a capital. - bringing
the light of day to the underground infrastructure while giving more
cohesion and breathing space to the neighbourhood it occupies.
In the heart of the French capital, a new public facility thats
spacious and pleasant to use is taking shape. It will be easier to
move around, with fewer obstacles, inviting those who use it to
stop, stroll and relax.
Whatever the ages and preferences of its users, it will have
something for everyone. The new gardens will bring more nature
to the city.
The new-look Les Halles will bring improved quality of life to local
residents and users alike. It will project the image of a capital city
thats hospitable, modern and user-friendly.
Increased fluidity for a city on the move
Another challenge facing the project is to make the underground
part of the development more permeable, eliminating the frontiers
which separate it from street level.
Entrances and interiors will be more spacious and better suited to
the volume of people that use them.
Pedestrian routes will be less congested and enable hassle-free
access to the surrounding neighbourhood.
A PROJECT THATS WORTHY OF TOMORROWS PARIS
As the heart of our city, a gateway to Paris for 11 million commuters and legions of tourists, Les Halles extends its reach well beyond its immediate confines. Thats why the redevelopment project were undertaking is framed from a metropolitan perspective. While on the one hand the objective is to improve quality of life in the neighbourhood of Les Halles and bring this neighbourhood back into dialogue with its urban setting, on the other its about a new transport hub which better connects Paris to its outlying townsand neighbouring populations.Working within this unified perspective, since 2002 Bertrand Delano has been fighting to give Les Halles a new lease of life, with the emphasis on public consultation.If Les Halles are to be a worthy symbol of the Paris of the 21st century which we are now building a city thats hospitable and full of vitality, dynamic and open to all generations it was essential that we take the necessary time to come to the right decisions, giving everyone the opportunity to speak his or her mind and participate in the public debate. In 2010, the time has come to put the project into action, to give Les Halles a new image that everyone can identify with. (december 2010)
8 IIIII
Anne Hidalgo, First deputy mayor of Paris in charge of planning and architecture
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 9
SEU
RA A
RCH
ITEC
TES
- DAV
ID M
ANG
IN /
PHIL
IPPE
RAG
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/ PA
TRIC
K BE
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and
JACQ
UES
AN
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/ STU
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SEZZ
.CO
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PHIL
IPPE
GU
IGN
ARD
(AIR
IMAG
ES)
Pedestrian routes have been reorganized to make them simpler and
more modern, making it easier for passengers to move between the
RER station and street level, get from one level of the shopping
centre to another, and walk around the neighbourhood in general.
The underground part of the development will be as airy and
spacious as street level.
Opening up Les Halles
Previously closed in on itself and difficult to penetrate, the
underground part of Les Halles will now be open to the exterior,
with improved visibility and visual unity.
The street level part of the development will be demolished and
rebuilt to confer new continuity between above and below. The
Canopy imposes new visual coherence and unity on the street
level structures, while also providing a roof and a principal point
of ingress.
From street level, the eye can take in the gardens, the new
buildings and their surroundings, with a birds eye view of the heart
of the Forum. The church of Saint-Eustache and the open sky will
be visible from level -3 of the patio, where escalators and broad
staircases lead to the gardens on street level.
The RER station will be clearly visible right from the street-level
entrance points.
All areas dedicate special attention to illumination, with the
emphasis on the diffusion of natural light.
Clarity, open prospects, wider spaces... Les Halles will breathe
better, and so will its users.
The Canopy seen from rue Lescot and Fontaine des Innocents
10 IIIII
2002>> Ville de Paris decides to redevelop the neighbourhood of Les Halles.
2004>> SEURA, the firm of architects led by David Mangin, wins the international competition for the redevelopment of Les Halles.
2005-2006>> Technical studies.
2007>> Patrick Bergers and Jacques Anziuttis Canopy wins the international competition for the superstructure part of Les Halles.>> STIF and RATP start work on plans for the redevelopment of the RER Chtelet-Les Halles transport hub.
2008>> STIF and RATP award architects Patrick Berger and Jacques Anziutti the contract for the reconstruction of the station. >> Planning and design continues.
2009>> Public surveys on the urban project and transport hub.
the project takes shape
PAT
RICK
BER
GER
AN
D JA
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NZI
UTT
I ARC
HIT
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S /
LAU
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Becoming part of the citys fabric
The project realigns Les Halles along an east-west axis, opening
up a vast central space which restores the articulation between rue
Lescot and Bourse du Commerce. In doing so it once again makes
Les Halles one of the major public spaces in central Paris.
With an adjoining garden as big as the Palais Royal and a roof as
broad as place des Vosges, place de lHtel de Ville or the Louvres
Cour Carre, Les Halles will reclaim its place in the heart of Paris.
With a renovated garden, pedestrian walkways and a covered patio,
the new-look Les Halles is a cityscape designed with the future in
mind.
From the Louvre to Place des Vosges, from the Grands Boulevards to the Seine, from the RER passenger concourse to the biggest garden possible... I envisage Les Halles as a link in the chain of the major public spaces in Paris.
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 11
Palais-Royal
Cour Carre du LouvreJardin des Tuileries
Place des Vosges
Les Halles
Place
des Innocents
Beaubourg
lHtel de Ville
Dauphine
Map showing open spaces in Central Paris
Sharing public space
RESTORINGUNITY TO THE CITY
David Mangin, Grand Prix de lUrbanisme 2008,SEURA architectes
Parvis de
Parvis deFontaine
A more pleasant urban setting
Pedestrians approaching the existing complex of Les Halles are
frequently confronted with obstacles or forced to make detours.
Among the army of obstacles they encounter, road tunnel entrances
and exits are the most inconvenient of all. To restore continuity
to pedestrian routes and reduce the volume of through traffic in
central Paris, the underground road network is to be reorganized.
The tunnel entrances on rue Turbigo and rue des Halles will be
redesigned, while those on rues Coquillire, Pont-Neuf and Berger
will be removed altogether.
The north-south tunnel will also be closed to reduce the volume of
through traffic, and will be converted into a shopping area.
The four entrances to the garden, at Saint-Eustache, rue du Jour,
rue du Louvre and rue du Pont-Neuf, will be redesigned to reduce
their footprint. Road signs will be improved.
12 IIIII
Underground road system
rue de Turbigo1 entre/1 sortie conserves1 entre supprime (tunnel nord/sud ferm)
rue du Renard1 sortie conserve
rue du Pont-Neuf1 entre supprime
rue Berger1 sortie supprime
Pont-Neuf1 sortie conserve
rue Coquillire1 entre supprime
rue des Halles1 entre modifie1 sortie supprime (tunnel nord/sud ferm)
Rue
du L
OUV
RE
Rue SAINT-HONOR
Rue
SAIN
T-DEN
IS
Bvd
de S
BAS
TOPO
L
Rue RAMBUTEAU
Rue BERGER
Rue
PIER
RE L
ESC
OT
Boursedu Commerce
gliseSt-Eustache
Fontainedes
Innocents
La Seine
CentreG. Pompidou
TourSt-Jacques
Rue
du P
ON
T-NEU
F
Rue COQUILLIRE
Rue de
TURB
IGO
rue de RIVOLI
rue tienne MARCEL
rue
du R
ENAR
D
Rue des HALLES
Circulations existantes supprimesFutur plan de circulation
Access to underground levels at present Pedestrian routes
A B
Pedestrian circulation in rue Coquillire in 2010
Pedestrian circulation in rue Coquillire tomorrow
A
B
A
B
Existing routes
New routes
rue Rambuteau
rue
Pier
re L
esco
t
All
e A
ndr
Bre
ton
rue Berger
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 13
rue de Rivoli
boul
evar
d de
Sb
asto
pol
rue des Halles
rue Saint Honorrue
du
Louv
re
rue Etienne Marcel
rue de
Turbi
go
rue Montorgueil
rue de Rivoli
boul
evar
d de
Sb
asto
pol
rue des Halles
rue Saint Honorrue
du
Louv
re
rue Etienne Marcel
rue de
Turbi
go
rue Montorgueil
rue de Rivoli
boul
evar
d de
Sb
asto
pol
rue des Halles
rue Saint Honorrue
du
Louv
re
rue Etienne Marcel
rue de
Turbi
go
rue Montorgueil
rue de Rivoli
boul
evar
d de
Sb
asto
pol
rue des Halles
rue Saint Honorrue
du
Louv
re
rue Etienne Marcel
rue de
Turbi
go
rue Montorgueil
Map of pedestrian areas in 2010
Map showing pedestrian
Plateau des HallesPlateau des Halles
Map of pedestrian areas tomorrowLetting foot traffic flow
The surface reorganization of Les Halles simplifies pedestrian
routes and offers increased circulation options for what will be a
very busy site by creating a new articulation between the gardens
and the underground areas via the patio.
The garden and superstructural elements are designed to make it as
easy as possible for pedestrians to cross them. Thanks to a spacious
central area, pedestrians will now be able to get from one side to
the other without detours: from Beaubourg towards Palais-Royal,
from the boulevards to the Seine, and diagonally from Fontaine des
Innocents to Montorgueil and from Pont-Neuf to Saint-Denis.
The pedestrian precinct will also be extended outwards from the
gardens to take in rues Coquillire, Berger, des Prouvaires, Sauval
and Vauvilliers, providing a more direct link between the Forum and
rue de Rivoli / rue du Louvre.
A wide meadow dotted with flower beds, with more trees and fun playgrounds, easier to access: the new gardens of Les Halles will feel good to be in. They will also be more environmentally friendly, with a deeper soil bed thats better suited to the vegetation and recovery of rainwater for irrigation.(december 2010)
An oasis in the midst of the city
The new gardens will be more spacious, more accessible, and
greener - making them a more pleasant place to be. Now leveller
and with a completely new layout, the new gardens are a wide
meadow fringed by trees, whose luxuriant vegetation is punctuated
here and there by childrens play areas, benches, petanque courts
and giant chessboards.
A central promenade runs right through the centre of the gardens.
Alleys feed into this promenade from either side, making the
gardens easy to cross in any direction: east-west or north-south.
The removal of obstacles and the levelling of the terrain makes the
gardens easier to negotiate for people with reduced mobility.
It will offer uninterrupted vistas and make the most of its
considerable surface area.
As a unifying element which visually incorporates the church of
Saint-Eustache, the Bourse de Commerce and the superstructure of
the new development, the garden will ramify into the neighbouring
streets (rue des Halles, rue du Pont-Neuf and rue Berger) in the
form of extended alignments of trees, while new bushes will be
planted in rue Rambuteau and place Marguerite de Navarre.
Place Ren Cassin will be redesigned, with arbours placed along rue
Berger and set back from the principal pedestrian flow to create
peaceful backwaters for reading or talking among friends.
14 IIIII
Fabienne Giboudeaux, first deputy mayor of Paris in charge of parks and gardens and the environment
The garden
BREATHINGNEW LIFE INTO THE CENTRE OF PARIS
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 15
Fabienne Giboudeaux, first deputy mayor of Paris in charge of parks and gardens and the environment
Map of the gardens today Map of the gardens tomorrow
Place R. Cassin
North path
South
Meadow
Music garden
Water garden
Play areas (7-11 years) Play area (2-6 years)
SEU
RA A
rchi
tect
es -
Phili
ppe
RAG
UIN
Lan
dsca
pe a
rchi
tect
/ G
olem
A new kind of play area
With a surface area of 2,500 m2, the play area for children aged 7-11
has capacity for up to 300 visitors. With some parts open and others
more secluded, with different volumes and variations in plant life, its
an area thats full of excitement and discovery.
Dynamic activities alternate with areas where the emphasis is on
rest and repose. All along the paths and trails, interactive terminals
plug into games selected by the resident animators or the children
themselves. The scenarios of these computer games are presented in
the pergola gallery, a bamboo and reed alley 25 m long thats also
equipped for temporary exhibitions.
The play towers and climbing trees offer all kinds of possibilities
for climbing, swinging, balancing and sliding, with two giant spiral
toboggan runs 20 m long.
The forum with its steps has capacity for about 60 children and can be
used as an auditorium for shows or as a casual meeting place. Games
will be organized by the play leaders who currently work in jardin
Lalanne.
With a surface area of 1,370 m2, the play area for children aged 2-6 will
offer early learning activities in an imaginary mini-canyon surrounded
by trees. Its like a giant toy box where children can choose the
plaything they want.
In the play canyon, they can clamber onto big spheres formed by rope-
sheathed metal rings, or climb inside them. A beach with real sand
recreates a seaside ambience complete with dune grasses. Water is an
omnipresent feature.
There are giant rollers for climbing and hiding behind. Adult supervisors
will be present at all times.
16 IIIII
The play area for 7-11 year olds
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 17
IM
AGIN
AL IN
GEN
IERI
E - P
ARCS
& JA
RDIN
S FR
ASN
IER
& M
ARQ
UET
SCU
LPTO
R
CREATING A LINKBETWEEN ABOVE AND BELOW
Lightweight and translucent
The part of the existing complex which is on street level will be
replaced by a structure whose curved forms take their inspiration
from the plant world. This structure is called the Canopy
appropriately enough, for the term is also used to collectively
designate the treetops of a forest, the part which is in direct
contact with the atmosphere and daylight.
This Canopy is like a giant undulating leaf, a light, flowing and
translucent envelope for two buildings containing public and
commercial facilities.
The two wings of the Canopy cover a sunken patio which, as the
articulation between street level and underground, looks certain
to become the new heart of Les Halles.
Architecture which makes it easier to get around
The Canopy connects the underground complex to street level
and unifies the public space of Les Halles.
Its open on both sides - facing the garden and rue Pierre Lescot
- to reveal new vistas. With a huge street level circulation area
around the patio, it bring the city, the gardens and the Forum
together. It also affords covered access to the route leading from
the Bourse de Commerce to Beaubourg and provides shelter from
the elements to people crossing the neighbourhood on foot.
It provides an extension to the gardens in the form of terraced
steps, linking gardens, Forum and transport hub via a large central
concourse. And its skin allows daylight to filter down to the patio
and shopping centre below.
18 IIIII
The Canopy is made of 15 translucent slats. Made of sheet glass, these slatsprovide natural ventilation. With maximum span of 96 m, they extend over the two wings of the buildings below. At either end of the Canopy,glass awnings offer shelter to the street-level pedestrian walkways. Just like the canopy of the forest, this Canopy will capture solar energy via the photovoltaic panels mounted on the north and south buildings.
The Canopy
PAT
RICK
BER
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As an articulation between built space and the plant milieu, the Canopy will strike up a resonance between natural energy and urban energy.
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 19
Patrick Berger, Grand prix darchitecture 2004,Patrick Berger et Jacques Anziutti architectes
PAT
RICK
BER
GER
AN
D JA
CQU
ES A
NZI
UTT
I ARC
HIT
ECTE
S /
LAU
TRE
IMAG
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BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO LES HALLESA hive of activity under an open-air roof
Open to the light but sheltered from the elements, the patio will be
the place to go for everyone who visits Les Halles.
As a concourse providing access to cultural facilities and shops, the
patio is a totally public area which will make an impressive setting
for events of a cultural or commercial nature.
20 IIIII
PAT
RICK
BER
GER
AN
D JA
CQU
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NZI
UTT
I ARC
HIT
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S /
LAU
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The patio
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 21
Under the Canopy: distribution of new facilities
6,300m2shops
1,000m2Other public facilities
1,400m2Hip-Hop centre
2,600m2conservatory
1,050m2Library
1,000m2Amateur workshops
The Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart conservatory will serve the four central arrondissements of Paris with the very best facilities possible. More spacious and comfortable, it will also have improved acoustics. The conservatory will offer instruction in music, drama and dance.
The conservatoryin the south wing
Library
Conservatory
Shops
Hip hop centre
Broadcasting studio
The north wing of the Canopy will feature a cultural centre, a library, a performance room, workshops (for theatre, singing, music and dance) and a facility specially dedicated to hip hop.
This facility is designed as a place of instruction, practice and performance, giving amateurs and professionals alike - and young people in particular - a place to perform in public. And its a nod to the history of a site which has made Paris the worlds second city of hip hop.
A performance room serving all the other facilities can be used for recitals, small shows and concerts.
The La Fontaine library is currently a childrens library. The new facility will be enlarged with a reading room for adults and children, and will now open onto the gardens.
New cultural facilities in the north wing
The convergence of cultural and commercial facilities
Together, the north and south wings of the Canopy will
accommodate a number of cultural facilities - more spacious and
diversified than the existing complex - and shops and services
related to culture, urban leisure and well-being. The existing
conservatory and library will be enlarged to twice their size. Two
brand-new facilities dedicated to typically urban pursuits - hip
hop and amateur artistic expression - will be built.
All faades looking onto the patio, gardens and adjacent streets
will have entrances to the public facilities and shops.
The diversity and multiplicity of facilities is designed to attract as
wide a variety of people as possible, reflecting the diversity of a
major metropolis.
Service areasWorkshops
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1
2
A BETTER RECEPTION FOR THE INHABITANTS OF PARIS
More entrances, simplified circulation
The new site will have more entrances, complete with a central
access point on the garden side of the Canopy. With 9 entrances
instead of the current 7 (including 5 entrances providing direct
access to the transport hub instead of 2 as at present), pedestrian
flow inside the new Les Halles will be more evenly distributed.
The public will find it easier to get around, and simplified
connections between indoors and outdoors will be faster, more
spacious and less congested. Evacuation routes from the transport
hub will be improved, and the shops on all levels of the Forum will
be more attractive.
Escalators, staircases and lifts will be grouped together at each
entrance point, making things easier for those with reduced
mobility as well as everyone else.
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Porte du Jour
Porte du Louvre
Patio
Place Marguerite de Navarre
Pont-Neuf
Porte Rambuteau
Porte Lescot
Porte Berger
Saint-Eustache
Entrance points
Entrance
Porte
Porte
The 2 existing entrances to the transport hub
The 7 entrances at present
The 3 new entrances to the transport hub
The 2 new entrances
Exit leading from RER station to patio and rue Lescot
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 23
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A new entrance from the gardens
It will now be possible to enter the Forum directly from the
gardens, via escalators leading to the lowest level of the patio
and the RER passenger concourse. This new entrance will also
make the terrace on level -1 - currently isolated from pedestrian
routes - more attractive.
Three entrances redesigned
Porte Lescot (on the eastern perimeter), the entrance which
formerly provided direct access to level -3 and from here to the
transport hub, will be replaced by a unique system of 4 escalators
(2 up, 2 down) serving all levels. The escalators at Porte Berger
(southern perimeter) and Porte Rambuteau (northern perimeter)
will be extended from level -3 to level -4 of the RER station.
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Legislation passed in 2005 requires new building projects to ensure that all circulation routes can be negotiated by persons with reduced mobility.
The different awarding authorities working at Les Halles have made accessibility to all areas and facilities for all people one of their priorities.
The redevelopment project therefore makes communication between street level and the underground levels (car parks, transport hub and Forum with its commercial and public facilities) as easy and direct as possible.
The new site will have 11 lifts compared with the existing 7.
And not only is accessibility to the different areas a major consideration - Ville de Paris also attaches great importance to visibility. Every area has to be easy to find.
The handicapped, aged, children, adolescents, tourists from France and abroad... No matter who uses Les Halles, everyone should feel welcome here in the heart of the city.
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 25
Garden
Garden
RER passenger concourse
RER passenger concourse
Patio
Patio
The Porte Lescot and Garden-Patio entrance tomorrow
The Porte Lescot entrance in 2010
Porte Berger
Porte Berger
Porte Rambuteau
Porte Rambuteau
The Porte Berger and Porte Rambuteau entrances tomorrow
The Porte Berger and Porte Rambuteau entrances in 2010
Porte Lescot
Porte Lescot
RER passenger concourse
RER passenger concourse
New or relocated escalator Existing escalator removed New escalator in existing setting
Patio
Patio
RER STATION A BIGGER, MORE SPACIOUS AND MODERNThe Chtelet-Les Halles rail interchange has been redesigned to
improve passenger comfort and the services offered to le-de-
France commuters. The RER passenger concourse will be more
spacious, with faster pedestrian routes (especially for passengers
making connections) and a significant improvement in fire safety
and evacuation systems.
With 3 new entrances, the passenger concourse will be better
connected to the Forum des Halles, gardens and exterior. The
new entrance in place Marguerite de Navarre provides a direct
connection between the passenger concourse and street level, near
rue de Rivoli.
A new pedestrian corridor will be created alongside the concourse,
linking the new entrance on place Marguerite de Navarre with
Place Carre. The busiest parts of the RER station will be enlarged.
Passengers will have 50% more space at their disposal, thanks to
the conversion of part of the rue Berger car park.
The refurbishment of the rer station involves a totally new
architectural design. Everything will be different: the layout, the
lighting design, materials, revetments and signage. The passenger
concourse and access to the platforms will be more spacious and
comfortable, with more fluid passenger circulation and direction
signs that are easier to understand.
The mix of shops and services available in the station will be
completely recast to offer more diversity and meet the needs of
passengers.
The redevelopment project also includes the modernization of the
stations safety infrastructure and renovation of the rer platforms,
connection routes and the stations of chtelet and les halles,
operated by ratp.
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The transport hub
The new-look RER passenger concourse
Layout of passenger concourse today
Layout of passenger concourse tomorrow
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 27
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A new entrance on place Marguerite de Navarre
The new entrance on place Marguerite de Navarre, near rue de Rivoli, will make access from the south side easier. It gives direct access to the RER station (on level -4) and metro lines 4 and 14.This will make for a faster connection between the metro and the RER.This entrance also leads to level -3 of the Forum, via a shopping mall.It provides an important new connection between Les Halles and the busy rue des Halles/ rue de Rivoli area.
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LETTING DAYLIGHT REACH THE HEART OF THE FORUM
The existing Forum will be entirely refurbished. Natural light
plays a leading role in the new design, which lets light reach down
through the escalator wells and the openings in the Canopy.
The sides of escalator wells will be splayed to gather extra
daylight. And theyll feature a lighting system that improves
visibility between one level and another.
Balustrades on landings and staircases are in glass, as are the
risers of the staircases themselves.
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 29
In the mall areas, the floors will be paved in light granite tiles. On either side of the escalators, columns with LED screens will show real-time images of the stained glass windows of the nearby church of Saint-Eustache and the faade of the Pompidou centre. Other images from the immediate surroundings can also be displayed, keeping the underground in touch with street level whatever the time of day or the season.
Internal layout
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The heart of Paris will continue to beat during this major operation!
Work will be organized to ensure that all underground facilities, shops and
station continue operating.
Redevelopment timeline Work begins End of work
2010 2011 2012 2013
2016
2018
2017
Construction of play area for children aged 7-11
Installation of temporary play area
Demolition of Willerval pavilions complete
Worksite operational
Construction of Canopy
Construction of new Porte Rambuteau entrance
Renovation of North-West section of garden
Handover of 7-11 play area
Creation of new entrance on Place M. de Navarre
Renovation of RER passenger concourse
Handover of new Porte Rambuteau entrance
Construction of new Porte Berger entrance
Handover of North-West section of garden
Reconfiguration of underground road layout complete
Handover of North-East section of garden
Handover of new entrance on Place M. de Navarre
Renovation of RER passenger concourse complete
Handover of new Porte Lescot entrance
Finalising the garden and surface road layout (area of roadworks acces on Rue Berger)
Handover of South-East section of garden
Handover of surface road layout complete
Installation of worksite
Reconfiguration of underground road layout
Demolition of Willerval pavilions
2015 Construction of
new Porte Lescot entrance
Handover of Canopy (with renovated interior)
Handover of the new sport facility CentrHalles Park
2014 Construction of Canopy
complete
Reconfiguration of surface road layout
Handover of new Porte Berger entrance
Renovation of East section of garden
Construction of the new sport facility CentrHalles Park
LES HALLES, THE NEW HEART OF PARIS IIIII 31
Project:Canopy and transport hub:
Patrick Berger and Jacques Anziutti
Redevelopment project, gardens and renovation of the Forum:
SEURA architectes - Florence Bougnoux, Jean-Marc Fritz and David Mangin - Philippe Raguin landscape architect
Other partners:
Ingrop Conseil et Ingnierie - RATP Ingnierie - Ginger Schaud et Bossuyt - Saguez and Partners - Light Cibles - Henri Marquet sculptor - Imaginal Ingnierie - AEP paysagiste
Artists impressions and plans are for illustration purposes only.
Design and copy: ParimagePrinted using vegetable-based ink on PEFC-approved paper
www.parisleshalles.fr
August 2014
Partners: