The Air Liquide site is part of the historical geography of the Saclay plateau, which used to supply water to the gardens of Versailles by conveying its flow of rainwater via the nearby Buc aqueduct. In the 18^th century, the Versailles estate became a focal point for world botanical research, especially with the Jussieu dynasty. While it is a relatively recent creation (the 60s), the park in Air Liquide’s property is a living testimonial of those plants which were brought back in the luggage of travelling botanists and of their horticultural creations (Atlas cedars, Canadian thujas, purple beeches side by side with common ash, oaks, maple trees, plane trees, chestnut trees etc.), and which symbolise the diverse origins of the company’s employees. This tree compilation will be sponsored on a worldwide scale by researchers hailing from across the globe who work at Air Liquide. In addition, botany has been an extraordinary source of inspiration for science, particularly the role of photosynthesis in gas transformation processes.
The landscaping project will introduce rainwater management, of the order of 4,000 cubic metres to be stored in clay soil, implying a composition that will take advantage of that constraint: forming pools and channels as a nod to the Versailles waterworks. The excavated earth, mostly containing clay and buhrstone, will largely be reused on site by building rammed earth walls and ledges covered in buhrstone cladding.
Lastly, the project will put the spotlight on the Air Liquide company’s special features, using powerful elements that can represent it throughout outdoor spaces:

• The company’s effective environmental awareness
• The company’s relation to air

This urbanisation project (solely devoted to housing) is set within municipal limits, right by the River Seiche which produces substantial wetlands.
A growing environmental awareness has led to a proposal to unify the various areas of ecological concern surrounding the site by maintaining a physical continuity between them:

• Enhancing and integrating existing wetlands into the project by creating new wetlands
• Creating a “semi-wild” strolling area as a transition from the existing urban park to the Seiche riverbanks
• Increasing wooded areas (carbon sinks)
• Gathering as many technical holding basins as possible and using landscaping techniques (gentle slopes, gullies, ditches)
• Restoring the Mécanique brook to open skies in order to reduce its downstream flow
• Supply water to the wetlands and to the Mécanique brook downstream by using the neighbourhood’s rainwater

Meanwhile, special attention is focused on landscaping the borders between public areas and private plots by taking advantage of the existing groves and copses which are still widespread throughout the site.

This operation involves a site on a steep slope (about fifteen metres’ difference in height) bordering a shopping area, a hospital for handicapped adults and an old village centre now absorbed into the municipality of Paimpol. The choice of landscaping highlights the topography and the views across the overall landscape by summoning up panoramic lookouts. The main pathways obey a hierarchy where the landscaping quality is specific to each line of sight. The creation of a network of shared alleyways provides privileged settings on a domestic scale.
A public park is being created, featuring several ranges of heath peat that are particularly suitable to the soil and climate, as well as a wooden children’s playground.
The Chemin de Malabry renewal alongside the project and the renewal of Rue Jacob makes it possible to initiate an urban thread with the existing village and its local shops.
By creating a square at the crossroads of Chemin de Malabry and the new East/West artery, we are enhancing attractive farmyard buildings located on the upper part. The redevelopment of the former Kerpuns sunken footpath, using hedges and shrubs, will soften the impact caused by the closing of the handicapped adults’ social centre, and it will reinstate the original ambiance of this sunken footpath through rural groves.

The site where the aquatic centre and the gymnasium are established is located at the city limits between a low-rise residential neighbourhood, a school campus and the countryside.
The creation of a car park for users of the sports facilities aims at structuring the multiple traffic streams (pedestrian zones, bike lanes, light vehicles and bus lanes), at encouraging soft mobility throughout the town in connection with the GR 39 “Grande Randonnée” long-distance footpath, and at providing comfortable waiting areas near the facilities.
The landscaping makes use of both buildings according to the various pedestrian streams in keeping with a primary North-South axis (the busiest one) and a secondary East-West axis (not so busy), by creating roomy footpaths. The car park was split into two parking sections (North and South) so as to cover both the swimming pool and the gymnasium.
The main car park to the North is lined with a tall maple collection. The fact that those trees were planted asymmetrically helps to soften the straight lines required for parking and will ultimately provide the car park with a forest atmosphere.
The overall growth of the trees clears the view over the sports hall’s architecture, thereby highlighting the building.
Lawns dotted with maple trees, oaks and shrubberies as well as park benches offer comfortable places to wait in the vicinity of the swimming pool entrance.

Feedback (last visit in 2016)

• The soil-covering plantations are having difficulties in getting a foothold.
• A few adjustments are to be expected and are covered by the “perfect finish” guarantee.
•  The site is popular with students any time the sun is shining during the lunch break.