The Michelet district is located in Puteaux, on the south-eastern edge of the La Défense business district. It is situated at the intersection of three distinct areas:

• The Esplanade, to the north, on the historic axis connecting the Louvre to La Défense,
• The Boulevard Circulaire Patrick Devedjian to the south,
• The town center of Puteaux, accessible via the Vignes and Orme footbridges.

Well served by public transportation, the Michelet district benefits from direct access to the Esplanade de La Défense metro station. Bordered to the north by the Lightwell, Acacia, and Allianz towers, and to the south by Carré Michelet, the Total Michelet tower, and the construction site for The Link tower, Cours Michelet is the neighborhood's center of gravity. The goal is to reinforce its role as a “distribution” hub for public spaces, transportation (Esplanade metro station), and surrounding buildings.

Because it is located at an intermediate level between the business district and the historic center of Puteaux, the Michelet district is relatively unknown. This characteristic is cultivated by the intimate atmosphere of Cours Michelet and its plantings. This “small district” has its own dynamism, supported by the presence of shops and restaurants at the foot of the buildings.

The renovation of this 1.2-hectare public space is essential in order to:

• compensate for the differences in elevation within the neighborhood,
• connect the natural ground (lower forecourt) and the La Défense slab,
• reinforce existing access points (footbridges, metro access, Forum, etc.)
• forge new links through the creation of four new connectors.

The urban project led by Paris La Défense will add an extra dimension to the neighborhood's appeal. The steep slope of the area, from the esplanade to the ground level in Puteaux, cannot be eliminated. However, reorganizing the existing access points will help to soften it. The surroundings of the extensively renovated new buildings will highlight their architectural quality. The renovation of Cours Michelet and its various layers of vegetation will greatly improve user comfort. Access to the Esplanade metro station will be clearer and pedestrians will be better guided. The Boulevard Circulaire will be made crossable, establishing continuity between the city of Puteaux and the business district.

In addition, new access points will facilitate vertical connections between the natural ground and the various slab levels, while providing direct access to the Esplanade, Boulevard Circulaire, and covered walkways. These connectors have two objectives: to anchor the Michelet district to the surrounding areas and to improve accessibility by mitigating the different slab levels.

A 20-meter ramp will connect the Michelet courtyards to the metro entrance. Work will begin in February 2025. The eastern entrance to the neighborhood will thus provide an efficient connection to the Esplanade and the covered walkways, and traffic flows will be better directed. In addition, green islands resembling gardens will be created.

The République connector will make Cours Michelet a destination in its own right in Puteaux, facilitating access to The Link via the lower forecourt and helping to calm traffic on Boulevard Circulaire Patrick Devedjian. Crossing the boulevard will also be made easier. To achieve these objectives, the following will be installed:

• a monumental staircase with steps planted with trees
• accessible elevators on the Carré Michelet side,
• a pedestrian crossing on Boulevard Circulaire.

The renovation of Cours Michelet is based on several key areas:

• The landscaping of Cours Michelet and the forecourt of The Link tower will include 191 new trees (300 trees in total). The existing layout of the tree-lined, straight mall will be retained.
• The north and south sides of the tree-lined mall will be bordered by generously planted “gardens” and islands—or “salons”—offering occasional shade and coolness at the foot of the towers.
• The porphyry paving stones of Cours Michelet will be removed, cleaned, and reinstalled. No less than 50% of the paving will be reused.
• The permeability of the ground will be improved thanks to grass-covered paving joints, the orientation of the slopes towards the plantings, the creation of earthen spaces at the ends of the mall, and the retention of rainwater in the various interstices of the slab.
• To respond to the alternating straight and curved shapes of the mall, gardens, and salons, the furniture will take on a variety of forms.

The work on Cours Michelet will be carried out in phases to maintain the site's functionality at all times and reduce disruption for users. It will begin in early 2024 and be completed in 2026.

Contact: michelet-projeturbain@parisladefense.com