Landscaping the vicinity of the La Ricoquais gymnasium – SAINT-GREGOIRE (Ille-et-Vilaine)

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Completion year 2015
Contracting Authority Municipality of Saint-Grégoire
Mission Landscaping a car park and the vicinity of the La Ricoquais gymnasium
Project Management Team Consulting engineers SAFEGE (mandated agent), Landscape architects and designers Laure Planchais
Surface area 17,000 m²
Budget €832,000 exc. VAT
Ratio €49 exc. VAT per m²

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.