The imposing Zenith of Saint Etienne, designed by Norman Foster, is located on an area of land traversed by a four-lane boulevard, and heavily constrained by an irregular geometry. In terms of its insertion onto the site, the project chose to establish the building on a bridge spanning the segment of road infrastructure. Its concrete foundation base spreads out to provide a vast eight thousand square meter square descending in a gradual slope towards the parking area. In doing so, the square offers an authentic public space appropriate to the scale of the Zenith cultural facility, as well as of the neighboring exhibition center (4 ha). The parking area is treated with ordinary materials put in place with compositional rigor. It is characterized by the presence of the greatest number of trees possible, despite its function as a parking lot. Planted and drainable trenches collect rainwater. They constitute a landscape “behind the scenes” planted with oak trees.
Communauté d’agglomération Saint-Etienne Métropole
MDP Michel Desvigne Paysagiste
Foster + Partners, Architects (lead consultant)
Thales, engineers
14 ha (35,5 acres)