Versailles
2015-2035
The Satory plateau is located to the south of this city, isolated by its topography but also due to the occupation of the army, which has been present for the last five centuries. The mutation of this site, from the recent abandonment of the army gives the opportunity to create this 8th district of Versailles.
Surrounded to the north by woodlands bordering the castle park, and to the south by forest land and the Bièvre ponds, Satory presents itself as a metropolitan island to the West of Paris. The western part of this territory is the subject of this transformation project. It is occupied by test tracks for military equipment and was also used as a maneuver field.
The urbanization of this new district is also linked to a metro line planned as part of Greater Paris, which will in a certain way open up this site, making it accessible in 15 to 20 minutes from the Saclay plateau which is becoming the largest university site in France.
620 acres surrounded by a remarkable landscaped setting, constitute the basic condition for the insertion of this large-scale urbanization project of 5500 housing units and office buildings..
The project is organized around two founding concepts:
An East-West geographical structure, which runs parallel to the drawing of André Le Notre Park. An establishment of geometric North-South axis which connect the two wooded hillsides surrounding this site.
The East-West orientation is the foundation of this project that reveals the depth of this landscape, opening the horizon towards the West. These views along with the lights orientation are the same as one finds along the axis of the Grand Canal of the Parc du Château.
The North-South axis establishes the district’s secondary distribution hierarchy, with three avenues with a 30-meter-wide mall and one avenue with a 60-meter mall. This generously dimensioned axis (similar to the main axis of the trident of the city of Versailles), has a double stake:
- Integrating a major traffic route connecting the north and south of the Yvelines department.
- Giving identity of the entrance to this new district, echoing the main Versailles axis, and organizing the historic center of the city.
- De facto axis directly and visually links the two forest slopes to the north and south, and will ultimately constitute the founding act of the 8th district of Versailles.