At the crossroads of the La Défense business district, André Malraux departmental park, and Paris La Défense Arena, the Croissant sector continues its transformation, which began in 2015.

Within the Seine-Arche joint development zone, the Croissant sector is located at the intersection of the La Défense business district, Les Terrasses de Nanterre, and André Malraux park. It is part of a comprehensive development project led by Paris La Défense in close collaboration with the city of Nanterre.

Structured around the roadworks of the 1970s, whose curves it follows, the Croissant district is bordered by Boulevard de La Défense and Emile Aillaud's “Nuages” tower district (Cité Pablo Picasso). Since 2015, the demolition of part of the former MP89 parking garage has given way to the first phase of an urban project (2015-203) with the construction of the Altana real estate program, which welcomed its first residents in 2019. This was followed in 2022 by the opening of the higher education school specializing in computer science (Institut Léonard de Vinci) and the arrival of new residents in the 50 apartments of the Arche Horizon residence and the shops on the ground floor. At the same time, the creation of new public spaces has made it possible to materialize the new entrance to the neighborhood with the opening of the redeveloped Pesaro Boulevard.

This new phase will open up the Croissant area to neighboring neighborhoods and the André Malraux departmental park, create a mixed-use neighborhood offering affordable housing, amenities (gym, community hall), diverse ground-floor retail space, and redevelop public spaces by creating new pedestrian links.

The fundamentals of the project are as follows:

• Connect the neighborhood to La Défense by creating more direct and clearly marked routes.
• Open up the ground floors of the Fraternité housing building.
• Re-waterproofing the ground and enhancing biodiversity by offering a range of plants suited to the environment.

The second phase of development, designed by the consortium led by the MG-AU agency with Atelier Jours and OGI, has been made possible by the demolition of the last elements of the car park in 2020.

The program includes moving the Gorki neighborhood hall and building a new gym on the ground floor of one of the new buildings. Thanks to an ambitious redevelopment of the outdoor spaces, pedestrian walkways will be made clearer between André Malraux Park, Emile Aillaud's “Nuages” tower district (Cité Pablo Picasso), and the La Défense business district.

The Gorki shared gardens will be preserved and expanded, while being redesigned to include a pedestrian crossing and a small square. A new social space will be created, offering gardeners tables, compost bins, and other facilities to encourage sharing and relaxation.

A “green and sporty heart” close to the housing, consisting of a green perimeter, a sports field (restored to the same size as the existing one), and a social area with furniture (tables, benches) will also be created. A sunken area will also ensure rainwater management, surrounded by seating and walkways. 

At the same time, the city of Nanterre began restructuring the Maxime Gorki school in 2021, which reopened in 2024. Paris La Défense is continuing development work around the school with construction on the Maryse Condé alley until March 2025. The objectives are to create a comfortable and accessible space for all and to increase the density of vegetation.

The urban project is being carried out in coordination with the restructuring of the La Défense urban boulevard, led by the Hauts-de-Seine Departmental Council.

From Le Croissant, you can reach the following destinations in less than 15 minutes:

• La Défense Grande Arche (Transilien L and U, metro line 1, RER A)
• Nanterre Préfecture RER A station
• Nanterre-La-Folie RER E station (2024) and M15 Grand Paris Express station (planned for 2031)

• 2015 Demolition of the first section of the multi-storey car park, launch of real estate projects
• 2019 Delivery of the Altana building, opening of the first public spaces
• 2020 Restructuring of access to the Egalité car park
• 2021 Opening of the Léonard de Vinci higher education site
• 2022 Delivery of the Arche Horizon residence

• 2020 Demolition of the second section of the multi-storey car park
• 2021-2024 Design of the urban project
• 2021-2023 Restructuring of the Gorki school complex (project owner: City)
• 2024-2027 Construction of new buildings and development of public spaces

Why is this project called Le Croissant? The project name Le Croissant comes from the curved shape of the perimeter on which the developments are taking place.