Jean Nouvel

CITY HALL . Montpellier

Jean Nouvel . photos: © Fabrice Dunou . + behance . marie-caroline lucat

On November 12, 2011, Helene Mandroux, mayor of Montpellier, Francois Fontes and Jean Nouvel, both architects, inaugurated the New City Hall in Montpellier.

Corning from an architectural competition organized by the city of Montpellier in 2003, the project is part of the extension of the Zac: offices, shops, apartments, a hotel, a parking and a park of 4.5 hectares, located along the Lez, facing Fort Marianne. The Town Hall includes reception areas for the public, the services of Everyday Life and of Civil Status. In continuity with the reception hall and offices of all departments of the City of Montpellier, arramged around two large interior patios. The public rooms are extended outside of the major gateways and terraces with views of the Lez.
The exterior facades are woven with strips of blue a n o d i z e d aluminum. Around patios, stainless steel woven dress all fronts and sides under bridges and create sets of reflections between the walls, the sides and under the water. The two patios are covered by overhead cranes, sun protection and support the installation of photovoltaic p a n e I s. Fleischer has designed the ceilings of the three main reception rooms to the public and Yann Kersale the lighting of the facades of the Hotel de Ville, the square and thep a r k.
"It was to organize the symbolism of this urban piece, and to design an area accessible to all, a common house connected to the river, with gardens, park, square."
Francois Fontes and Jean Nouvel