The project rethinks the role of underground car parks in the mall complex of Euralille as places that support new needs for mobility, logistics, human cohesion and resilience.

As Dominique Perrault explains in his “groundscape” concept, “underground parking spaces are often underused, strategically located and represent important reserves of surface area, volume and land, whose potential appears immense”. How can we adapt these spaces to support new needs?

The concept is investigated in Euralille, Lille, France, a 155.000 sqm multifunctional building designed by Jean Nouvel that includes a shopping centre, five towers, one hotel, one housing block and 40.000 sqm of underused underground parking on two levels. The main gesture of the project is a twenty metres wide cut that opens up the building introducing natural air and daylight to the lower levels, while connecting the urban life of Place François Mitterand with Euralille with more than 6000 sqm of public realm, rich vegetation, south-facing seating, spaces for gatherings, paths and pocket gardens. 

The former underground parking spaces positioned along the cut, are converted in bright double-height coworking spaces and retails. Secondary rooms transcend the scale of the building and use their groundscape uniqueness to become containers for creative activities, exhibitions and events. The rest of the carpark evolves its spaces to offer flexible layouts for new activities and needs, not only related to future mobility but also for deliveries, storage and potential non-human industries.

TYPE: Transformation
LOCATION: Lille, France
CLIENT: INDIGO
YEAR: 2022
TEAM: Alberto Roncelli, Nicole Vettore