The renewal of Noisy-le-Sec’s town center reflects a deep transformation of a fragmented urban space. Inherited from disjointed post-World War II development, the city center grew without any real urban framework. Various fragments coexist without cohesion: a 19th-century notarial house now converted into an art center, mid-20th-century housing blocks and towers, the town hall, and the market square. More recent additions, such as the Roger Gouhier media library and the Bergeries Theater, have further layered the urban fabric. This urban collage has resulted in a public space that is fragmented and lacking a clear identity.
In this context, the urban and landscape project proposes to recreate a recognizable, legible, and welcoming town center. Nature becomes the main tool for bringing coherence back to the city, through a carefully designed composition of landscape textures, including plantings, trees, stone surfaces, and rock elements. Only an approach of a “park-city” can reconcile the urban landscape with its natural foundations, restoring a living and resilient ecosystem. This strategy strengthens the connection between residents and their environment by highlighting the presence of nature, reducing the dominance of buildings, and reintroducing a human scale to public spaces.
The project is structured around a continuous natural stone surface, subtly leveled to connect the different spaces. Rocks are introduced to create a visible geology, absorbing height differences and providing seating and informal play areas for children. Clusters of trees form lush groves, establishing a new urban landscape conducive to strolling, relaxing, and gathering. Circulations are simplified, and public spaces are comfortable and safe, offering an easy and enjoyable experience in the heart of the city.
Noisy-le-Sec’s new town center is now structured around several key public facilities: the media library, the Bergeries Theater, the Nadia and Lili Boulanger Conservatory, and the art gallery. Cités-Unies Square becomes the focal point of this urban renewal, linking with Découvertes Square and the Bergeries Park. Together, they form a new active and recognizable civic center within the municipality.
The project’s aim is to clearly define and locate this town center within the broader urban fabric. It highlights key public spaces as new landmarks, providing strong references for the community. The town center’s redevelopment has been approached both at an overall and detailed scale, with flexibility for future evolutions. Cités-Unies Square has regained a human scale through its planted areas, balancing the strong presence of surrounding buildings. New uses are emerging, promoting sociability, shared spaces, and an enriched collective life within a newly welcoming and vibrant city center.
- Collaborators:
Partners: Praxys: landscape architect and urban planner – Hi Lighting Design : lighting engineers – M2h : architect – InVARR : civil engineering office (roads and utilities)
Client: City of Noisy-le-Sec
