PARIS HIGH COURT PLAZA
Paris, France

The plaza of the High Court of Justice serves as link and threshold between Paris et Clichy and has significance both as a symbol of justice and for the surrounding neighbourhood. The treatment of the square takes into account these multiple and diverse scales, allowing a fluidity and ease of use. 

The plaza is made up of two essential elements: a brutalist base, imitating the proportions of the building, and three planted regions that bring porosity and comfort to the users. Stone and metal come together to express the core concepts of the square of power, transparency and democracy. Three dynamic slits in the ground organize the plaza, enclosing areas of vegetation and forming long benches. Additionally, the slits compensate for the changes in topography, creating a continuous and accessible space. Combined with a striated expression of the groundwork of the stone, metallic monolithic masts elevate and direct the view towards the immeasurable height of the new Palais. At night, these masts generate a soft luminescence whose slow variations are orchestrated by the ambient sounds and movements of vehicles.

Year
Completed 2020
Program
Public space
Budget
6 000 000 €
Surface area
9 000 m²
Partners
AIA ingénierie (roads and networks), Emma Blanc (landscape), Maris Mezulis (photography)
Client
SPLA Paris & Métropole Aménagement
Project