Recently MVRDV and West 8 announced that ‘Le Monolithe’ in Lyon, France is complete. The contemporary urban block with five separate volumetric volumes designed by 5 different architects including MVRDV, Pierre Gautier, Manuelle Gautrand, ECDM and Erik van Egeraat. The public plaza – ‘Cour de Loges was designed by WEST 8.
The green garden is located inside a contemporary urban block. The ‘Cour des loges’ is made of a composition of five distinct volumetric buildings. The roof garden connects the different buildings with each other and give coherence to the public area. The different heights and scales make it possible to plant trees. The sculptural Ginkgo Biloba trees, placed in inclination, are supported by steel structures. The natural elements are dramatized. The raised edges invite the users of the building to sit down and meet. At night, the Cour des loges is enlightened by spotlights which are placed on the roofs of the buildings. The projected circles create a theatrical atmosphere. Around the building, the green area and the use of materials are in coherence with the existing plans of public spaces.
Landscape Architect: WEST 8
Client: SEM Lyon Confluence/ ING Real Estate / ATEMI
Design: 2004-2007
Realization: 2009-2010
Size: 2,700 m²
SOURCE: WEST 8 & MVRDV
