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Parc de la Villette

Paris, France

Bernard Tschumi Architects

 

Le Park de la Villette attempts to encourage new attitudes and perspectives in design by the juxtaposition (and the combination) of the activities within the park. It can be conceived as one large, but discontinuous, building that overlaps with the city and the existing suburbs at certain regions. Intense areas of activities are located according to the characteristics and uses of the existing site in order to allow maximum movement, to emphasize discoveries, and to present a variety of programs and events to visitors.

The park consists of an overlay of three different and autonomous systems: the system of objects, the system of movement and the system of spaces. This creates a "staged series of tensions that enhance the dynamism of the park."5 (GA Document Vol.26)

An open and covered passage running north-south links the two Paris gates with subway stations, while the east-west coordinate joins Paris to its suburbs. Another path, called the Path of Thematic Gardens, intersects the axes of the site at various places, providing encounters with the programmed 'intense' areas for the activities.

Image source: http://www.tschumi.com