Greened patios and terraces create small meadows

A miniature, wild landscape is planted in the courtyard of the complex at 26 Avenue des Champs Élysées as part of the site’s building remodeling. The ground floor patio and the surrounding terraces become both meeting places and small meadows.

Stairways lined with raised planters connect the patio to the upper floors and terraces. The planters are filled with a wide variety of species (elder, Japanese maple, azalea, salvia, ivy, etc.), forming a landscape that changes with the seasons. Cascading plantings frame the patio, which is situated at the heart of the complex and opens onto the various business and dining establishments. A majestic Pinus sylvestris rises from its center, providing shade in the summer.

The pedestrian passage through the complex alternates between open and covered spaces. The patio, terraces, and stairways are surfaced in granite slabs, grounding the site firmly in its Parisian roots. Since slab construction limits topsoil quantities, technical constraints must be factored in. A lightweight substrate is installed and arranged to create sufficient depth for each plant species. 

The terraces, crisscrossed with gravel paths, feature central grassy meadows perfect for garden furnishings. Layers of greenery fill these small meadows: 

- Groundcover plants and bulbs (ivy, periwinkle, anemone, etc.) blanket the ground.

- Flowering shrubberies (rhododendron, azalea, hydrangea, rose, etc.) bloom along the paths and building facades, offering privacy in some terraces while opening onto the central space in others.

- Small multi-stemmed trees with graceful foliage (birch, Japanese maple, serviceberry, etc.) bring movement to the landscape, creating a link between nature and architecture.