The Arceaux district in Montpellier exemplifies the high quality of life found in the suburbs near the historic city center. With its market, shops, cafés, architectural heritage, and schools, it offers an ideal environment for children’s development. The only drawback is the public space, which is poorly organized and lacks clear separation between motorized traffic and soft mobility, with a large open-air parking lot at its center.
The public space renovation, proposed by BASE landscape agency, addresses this issue by incorporating the theme of a “child-friendly city” to better connect the city center with the Arceaux district. As a prelude to these improvements, the Collectif Parenthèse is offering a temporary activity space aimed at gradually transforming public areas with a focus on children. This includes an “outdoor classroom” with seating and two large tables in front of Chaptal and Jeanne d’Arc schools, swings, a motor skills course for young children, a dance mirror, a misting area, a mini pétanque or molky court, and large picnic tables. In line with circular economy principles, these modules are designed to be assembled, disassembled, stored, and reused. They could later be integrated into outdoor events, festivals, or repurposed for schoolyards.
Word of the architects: a special thanks to Montpellier Métropole and SA3M, Rouage for structural calculations, FZR Sethi for the beautiful ground mural along the installations, and the Ne Rougissez Pas collective for the graphic design of the triangle panels, developed in collaboration with the educational community and co-created with the children from Chaptal and Jeanne d’Arc schools.
