Vauréal is one of the thirteen municipalities of the Cergy-Pontoise Urban Community, in the French department of Val-d’Oise. The Forum is a community-level facility located in the heart of the city. It has been an emblematic venue dedicated to contemporary music for more than 25 years. As a space for performance, creation, rehearsal, recording, training, and exhibitions, it contributes significantly to the attractiveness of the territory and is a place to which residents are especially attached. Its growing success made the creation of “Forum 2” necessary, in order to better meet user expectations by increasing its capacity and expanding its functions (club-style venue, administrative offices, etc.).
Functionally and aesthetically integrated with the new Forum 2, the forecourt forms a seamless extension of the town center, its shops, and its public facilities (library, high school, swimming pool, etc.). Our team worked to create a public space that fosters social cohesion and adapts to emerging uses. It is a multifunctional space capable of hosting a wide range of activities, especially during the summer season (open-air concerts, stands, food trucks, etc.). The esplanade combines open/modular areas with permanent features (resting zones, urban furniture, planted areas, etc.).
Our aim was to create a piece of city that reflects the wellbeing and quality of life of Vauréal, while addressing current environmental challenges (combatting heat islands, comfort and health, carbon considerations, and climate resilience). The square is heavily planted, combining multiple layers of vegetation, and integrating into Vauréal’s existing green network at a broader scale.
Finally, our work considered all circulations within and around the site. Parking and soft-mobility flows were redesigned, and the various connections were requalified and secured.
The forecourt is named “Esplanade IDIR,” in tribute to Hamid Cher.