The Arches

The Arches
© TimeBox Prod

THE ARCHES

Collectif Parenthèse

SPONSORS
Base Paysage / Métropole De Montpellier

DESIGN OFFICE
Collectif Parenthèse

PHOTOGRAPHS
timebox Prod

AREA
1500 M²

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Montpellier, France

CATEGORY
Public Space, Temporary Installations, Renovation

The Arceaux district in Montpellier is highly representative of the quality of life that reigns in the suburbs close to the historic city center.

The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod

Its market, its shops, its cafes, its architectural heritage and its schools make it an ideal space for the development of children.

The only downside: it is an unclear public space that poorly delimits motorized travel from soft mobility with, in its center, a gigantic open-air car park.

The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod

The renovation of the public space, proposed by the Base landscape agency, responds to this problem by associating the theme of “the city at child height” in order to connect the city center to the Arceaux district.

As a prefiguration of these developments, the Collectif Parenthèse is offering a temporary entertainment space to allow a gradual transformation of public spaces by giving pride of place to children: 

The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod

A class "outside the walls" with a bleacher and two large tables on the forecourt of the Chaptal and Jeanne d'Arc schools, swings, a motor skills course for the little ones, a dancing mirror, a misting area, a mini pétanque or molky court and large picnic tables.

In order to respect the logic of circular economy, these modules are mountable/dismountable, storable and reusable.

The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod

They will then be able to integrate outdoor events, and festivals, or even be collected from schoolyards.

A big thank you to the Métropole de Montpellier and the SA3M, to FZR Sethi for his magnificent fresco on the ground along the installations, and to the collective Ne Rougissez Pas for the graphics of the triangle panels in consultation with the educational community and co-created with the children from Chaptal and Joan of Arc schools.

The Arches
© TimeBox Prod

The Arches
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The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod


The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod
The Arches
© TimeBox Prod


The Arches
Axonometric Illustration 1
The Arches
Axonometric Illustration 2
The Arches
Concept Illustration 1
The Arches
Concept Illustration 2