Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU)
25/07/2022.
[Toulouse] France
metalocus, JAVIER ARIAS
metalocus, JAVIER ARIAS
The Basilica of Saint Sernin is one of the main monuments of Toulouse and European Romanesque architecture. The urban voids that surround it have been generated as a result of the demolitions carried out after the French Revolution and the subsequent superimposition of successive projects of alignments and ordering of buildings.
The reorganization project of Place Saint Sernin in Toulouse proposed by BAU returns prominence to the historic urban fabric of the city. The cars that occupied its surface indiscriminately are removed and the lost trees are restored, placing them as organizing elements of the public space.
The reorganization project of Place Saint Sernin in Toulouse proposed by BAU returns prominence to the historic urban fabric of the city. The cars that occupied its surface indiscriminately are removed and the lost trees are restored, placing them as organizing elements of the public space.
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by Xavier Boymond
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by Xavier Boymond
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by Xavier Boymond
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by Xavier Boymond
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by Xavier Boymond
Previous situation. Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU).
Ground floor plan. Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU).
Section. Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU).
Archeology. Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU).
Ground floor plan. Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU).
Previous situation. Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU).
The simplicity of the BAU proposal, the use of materials and the recognition of the heritage of the place have become the mechanisms of the project to reactivate this new public space, once disappeared, recovering its morphology and its capacity to contain different uses. and be a meeting place for citizens.
The project for Saint Sernin Square in Toulouse was announced as one of the 5 finalists for the 2022 European Public Space award.
The project for Saint Sernin Square in Toulouse was announced as one of the 5 finalists for the 2022 European Public Space award.
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU.
Development of the public space around the Basilica of Saint Sernin by Joan Busquets (BAU). Photograph by BAU.
Project description by BAU
The Saint-Sernin basilica, a masterpiece of Romanesque art, is one of the emblematic and most visited monuments of Toulouse. A stopover point on the Way of St. James is listed as a World Heritage Site.
The Grand Saint-Sernin project includes the development of the public space around the basilica, the restoration of the religious building, and the modernization of the lighting of the basilica contributing to the enhancement of its architectural ensemble. A scientific committee had been set up specifically for this operation overseeing the design process and the construction of the project.
The work on the public space of Saint-Sernin, which started in 2017, have been completed in the 2020 spring. The arrangements made around the Saint-Sernin Basilica, with its landscaped gardens and its pedestrian esplanade, transformed the car parking surrounding the basilica into a large 18,000 m² public square with different atmospheres;
- The Jean-Paul II square and the parvis of the Basilica formed a historic ensemble with the musée St Raymond and the Hotel du Barry.
- The Miégeville forecourt, at the end of the historical axis connecting St Sernin with the Place du Capitol.
- The historic space of the abbey and the cloister
- The Apse garden at the apse of the basilica derives from the urban form given by Violletle-Duc’s alignment plans. a new green space in the heart of the city
The project recovers the place for the pedestrian and reinforces the unitary image of the site. Therefore the range of materials and construction solutions are reduced. The natural stone pavement, (Porphyre from the Alps and French Comblanchien), gives coherence to the whole, but its layout and finishing differ to explain the site history.
The redevelopment of the space also offers the opportunity to create public gardens, in a neighbourhood with few green areas. Reinforcing the existing landscape structures, such as the Lycée Garden and the 19th-century apse garden, expanded and opened to the public.
More information
Architects
BAU (B - Arquitectura i urbanisme). Architects.- Joan Busquets, Pieter-Jan Versluys, Linus Nordström.
Design team
BAU (Lead consultant) – MDP – LEA – Egis.
MDP.- Michel Desvigne, Enrico Ferraris, Carla Greco.
Egis.- Jean-Michel Anjuere, Jean-Charles Chenac.
LEA.- Laurent Fachard, Christine Badinier.
MDP.- Michel Desvigne, Enrico Ferraris, Carla Greco.
Egis.- Jean-Michel Anjuere, Jean-Charles Chenac.
LEA.- Laurent Fachard, Christine Badinier.
Client
Toulouse Métropole.
Area
18,260 m².
Dates
Commission - design.- 2015.
Works.- 2017.
Completed.- 2019 - 2020.
Works.- 2017.
Completed.- 2019 - 2020.
Location
43.607029°, 1.443974°. Pl. Saint-Sernin, 31000 Toulouse, France.
Photography
Joan Busquets. BAU (B-Arquitectura i Urbanisme s.l.)
BAU (B-Arquitectura i Urbanisme s.l.), is a design office for urban planning, urban design and architecture based in Barcelona, established by Joan Busquets. Over the last 30 years, BAU has established itself as an international practice with a team of 20 collaborators from different disciplines; urban planners, urban designers, architects, landscape architects and engineers.
BAU has participated in strategic urban planning and design for the cities of The Hague, Delft, Geneva, Rotterdam, Toledo, Lisbon, Barcelona and Toulouse among others around the world like Shenzhen, Shanghai, Ningbo and Montreal —most involving public-private partnerships—having also completed architecture projects for the modern centre of Trento, Italy; Villanova, Spain; and Barcelona’s Fair Trade among others.
BAU has an extended experience in academic and field research, as well as a long-term practice in Urban and Architectural Design, with particular experience in the implementation on the European level of complex urban projects on derelict infrastructural sites and the development of a diversity of intermediate scale residential urban projects.
BAU is used to working outside Spain by collaborating with local teams from different countries (Italy, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, China, etc.).
BAU has participated in strategic urban planning and design for the cities of The Hague, Delft, Geneva, Rotterdam, Toledo, Lisbon, Barcelona and Toulouse among others around the world like Shenzhen, Shanghai, Ningbo and Montreal —most involving public-private partnerships—having also completed architecture projects for the modern centre of Trento, Italy; Villanova, Spain; and Barcelona’s Fair Trade among others.
BAU has an extended experience in academic and field research, as well as a long-term practice in Urban and Architectural Design, with particular experience in the implementation on the European level of complex urban projects on derelict infrastructural sites and the development of a diversity of intermediate scale residential urban projects.
BAU is used to working outside Spain by collaborating with local teams from different countries (Italy, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, China, etc.).
Categories
Our selection
