A park inspired by the vast landscape surrounding Nice

This large, 10-hectare city park stretches across the second section of the Promenade du Paillon, built on top of the Paillon River.

The first section of the promenade begins at the Mediterranean Sea, opening onto the city with vast landscaped lawns. The new park is designed in aesthetic and functional harmony with this first section, its dense and uninterrupted vegetation seamlessly transitioning the space inland.

Our project is a precise miniaturization: the upstream dry valley of Paillon scaled to a park. The river and its pebbled bed, the riparian plants and the wooded banks — all are recreated in a human-made landscape. The planting composition is made up of species native to the Riviera and Alpes-Maritimes. 

Surfaces of pebbles and light-colored limestone riprap alternate with planted softscape, mimicking the dry valley. Two environments encircle this rocky terrain: lawns and flowering meadows create large, multi-use open spaces, and wooded areas form a forest ecosystem. Surrounding roadways are greened with plants and vegetation, expanding this Mediterranean environment out into the city.

The central glade offers a view of the mountains beyond, forming a relationship with the vast landscape surrounding the park. The changing elevation creates countless perspectives and possibilities. Accompanied by a system of watercourses and pools, the main pathways wind through the park like an echo of the river flowing underground. These new, “wild” paths are steeped in the geomorphology of the Paillon Valley.

Circular follies designed for several different purposes dot the new, wooded promenade. Like the vibrant hues of artist Yves Klein, their primary colors emulate the brightness of the MAMAC contemporary art museum, now amplified by this greened, outdoor canvas.