Esplanade for the new Anova Exhibition Hall  --

The project is located at the western entrance of Alençon and presents the starting point of the town entrance rehabilitation.  An esplanade is designed to provide a generous contemporary and functional public space surrounding the new Exhibition Hall and the Luciole Concert Hall, allowing easy access, free flow for pedestrian circulation and event hosting. This large space is predominantly composed of hardscape durable materials expressed through a graphic unifying ground surface, highlighted by pattern and texture. Three main families have been used: bitumen, metal and concrete. This combination provides contrast and a dynamic layout, with quality and durability at a limited cost.  Three types of bitumen finishes are arranged in geometric shapes, separated by bands of white concrete, echoing the geometric shapes of the grass inclined facets and the architectural vocabulary of the Concert Hall and the Exhibition Hall. The grass inclined facets with metallic stainless steel edges, take on tectonic shapes, interacting with each other, reflecting the buildings and creating a succession of terraces allowing the public to discover the esplanade progressively and guiding them towards the entrances of the buildings. These changes in level are punctuated by a lighting layout that is able to create a multitude of different nocturnal atmospheres.