A facelift for the Corolles Reflets Iris neighborhood
A facelift for the Corolles Reflets Iris neighborhood
Project owner: Paris La Défense
Urban design: Urbanica-SLG-EGIS-Concepto
Programming: redevelopment and creation of public spaces and green spaces
Start of construction: 2021
Completion: 2024
Location: Esplanade Nord, Corolles-Reflets-Iris district (Courbevoie)
Summary of the file
- Introduction
- Corolles-Reflets-Iris, yesterday and today
- Today, a greener and more sustainable neighborhood
- A more diverse, functional, and reconnected neighborhood
1. Introduction
Paris La Défense is initiating and leading the renewal of Europe's leading business district. The local public institution is transforming La Défense into a vibrant destination, with diverse, lively, green, and pleasant neighborhoods. On the Courbevoie side, the renewal of the Corolles-Reflets-Iris sector is a continuation of the renovation of Place des Corolles and Place de l'Iris. Thus, around the Aurore tower, public spaces have been redesigned to make them more pleasant and easier to navigate.
In the Corolles-Reflets-Iris sector, Paris La Défense has conducted studies, in parallel with the work undertaken by Aermont on the Aurore tower, to rethink the surrounding public spaces and, more broadly, the entire neighborhood. In line with the new layout of Place de l'Iris, several objectives guided the thinking behind this project, including the complete renovation and opening of the Reflets patio, the creation of a qualitative perspective between Place de l'Iris and Place des Reflets, the simplification of pedestrian walkways, and the greening and beautification of the neighborhood's public spaces with contemporary materials.
The Reflets patio has undergone extensive restructuring to make it brighter, more pleasant, and more open. A wider, more visible staircase and elevators providing access to the parking lot now offer people with reduced mobility the possibility of connecting to the parking lot and the two levels of the slab.
The public spaces have been landscaped: a “green lens” has been created on the Place des Reflets and new plantings, on a ‘slope’ and around “landscaped lounges,” have been created between the Aurore and Manhattan towers in the space freed up by the new pavilion of the Aurore tower. Finally, light-colored concrete slabs, light-colored natural stone, and wooden furniture adorn the Place des Reflets and its patio. This project is therefore part of Paris La Défense's strategy to become the first post-carbon business district by limiting its impact on the environment.
In terms of traffic, connections between the slab and Boulevard Circulaire have been improved. A wide staircase connects Allée Marvingt and the slab, between the base of Pavillon Aurore and the Manhattan Tower, while a staircase and two bicycle-accessible elevators connect Allée Marvingt and Place des Reflets. Finally, soft mobility is encouraged, with the installation of around fifty bike racks in the public space for cyclists to use.
The entire appearance of the Corolles-Reflets-Iris area has changed. With a renovated Place de l'Iris and its two new restaurants, a unified and comfortable floor, high-quality amenities, a health center, and a completely redesigned Patio des Reflets, the neighborhood has been given a new lease on life.
2. Corolles-Reflets-Iris, yesterday and toda
A gradual transformation of public spaces
In 2016, the Reflets terrace underwent an initial phase of renovation, followed in 2018 by the transformation of Place de l'Iris. Covering 6,000 m², the light, contemporary surfaces, delicately illuminated, extend the Saint-Gobain tower.
The renovation of the floors, the enlargement of the flower beds, the planting of additional trees (52 trees in total on Place de l'Iris) and the new commercial infrastructure designed by the Tolila + Gilliland agency foreshadow the future face of the neighborhood.
This initial gradual transformation was accompanied in 2018-2019 by a major renovation project for the underpasses. This “reclamation” of underground spaces has optimized the neighborhood's functionality with the reconfiguration of areas dedicated to deliveries, taxis, drop-offs, and waste management.
The renovation of the Reflets footbridge, which overlooks the circular boulevard towards Courbevoie, went beyond simple refurbishment. Signaling the new identity of the footbridges in the business district, this link is clad in new coverings, luminous slabs, and night lighting. Glass desks and screens are integrated into the guardrails.
A facelift for the Corolles-Reflets-Iris neighborhood
By 2023, the neighborhood will be transformed thanks to simplified pedestrian routes, increased greenery, and beautification of public spaces.
A vision for tomorrow: connecting spaces and uses
The new look of Place de l'Iris alone establishes a new connection between the different levels of the slab. It also links public and private spaces, employees, and residents. Paris La Défense has continued this transformation across the neighborhood, bringing together spaces and functions that were previously separate. More specifically, this involves:
- creating new urban and landscape perspectives,
- connecting the three levels with wide, open walkways,
- strengthening the commercial dimension of the Reflets patio.
The aim of transforming public spaces is to achieve a better balance for working, living and enjoying life in La Défense. As a developer and planner, Paris La Défense is continuing the approach it has taken in the Groues, Croissant and Rose de Cherbourg areas, which are set to become fully-fledged living spaces.
This approach includes the greening of public spaces and improved access to other areas of the business district (La Défense esplanade, Cœur Défense, Saisons, etc.) and the town of Courbevoie.
3. Today, a greener and more sustainable neighborhood
The redevelopment of the Corolles-Reflets-Iris neighborhood has restored continuity:
- visual continuity, with the removal of the most prominent obstacles,
- continuity of pathways, with clearer and more open routes,
- continuity of surfaces, with harmonization of materials, textures, colors, surface effects, and the natural character of the ground.
More natural soils
To make it easier to navigate an area that has long been characterized by a wide variety of materials and obstacles, the replacement of public space surfaces is intended to be as simple and natural as possible. This is consistent with the neighborhood's renewal.
In order to limit the “patchwork” effect of the different slab levels, limestone (Reflets level) and architectural concrete (Place de l'Iris), both in light tones, were chosen for the redevelopment project. Blue stone highlights the crossings of the green spaces that have been created or redeveloped, and granite is used around the D2 tower, in keeping with the existing landscaping of the Marvingt alley.
A plant show
On the Reflets patio, below the Vision 80 residence and near the Aurore tower, a grass-covered dome with tall trees will interact with the planters located further north, forming a “vegetation lens” embellished with grasses, ferns, and perennials. Prunus, magnolias, and field maples generously complement the contemporary look of the new ground cover. They are surrounded by African sage, sweet woodruff, climbing ivy, and green santolina. The flowerbeds are crisscrossed by paved paths.
In addition to the 51 trees on Place de l'Iris, other landscaping features have been added to enhance the existing vegetation. Between the Manhattan tower and the “lantern” pavilion of the Aurore tower, several landscaped lounges have been created, ideal for moments of relaxation. In front of the Manhattan Square residence, the plantings have also been redesigned to bring more plant diversity.
4. A more diverse, functional, and reconnected neighborhood
The real estate projects in the Corolles-Reflets-Iris neighborhood have signaled the start of a complete renovation of public spaces. Far from being a project built from scratch, the multiple interventions take advantage of what already exists, enhance the neighborhood's identity, and bring its assets back to the forefront. In La Défense, diversity has been evolving for over 40 years.
A reaffirmed vocation
With recent real estate developments (D2, Saint-Gobain, etc.), the transformation of the Europe base, and the renovation of Aurore, the Corolles-Reflets-Iris district is strengthening the presence of tertiary activities, which remain the DNA of La Défense. The arrival of companies of all sizes is the result of comfortable collaborative spaces and the development of new services related to sports, dining, and wellness.
After several years of waiting, the “return” of employees is combined with the maintenance of a strong residential presence. This mixed-use vocation has defined the Corolles-Reflets-Iris district since its inception. It has now been reactivated by the public space modernization project led by Paris La Défense. The renovated public spaces offer a much higher quality of use, particularly by encouraging moments of rest and relaxation.
This transformation involves the renewal of surfaces, street furniture, and landscaping, as well as more structural operations, including:
- the removal of sections of paving slabs that represented visual and physical obstacles
- the construction of a new staircase between Place Reflets and Place Iris, simplifying pedestrian routes
- improved connections with the circular boulevard thanks to the creation of new links
New shops and services
At the foot of the Vision 80 residence, the former Buref shopping center located in the Reflets mezzanine has been home to a medical center designed by Hélène Fricout-Cassignol Architects since 2022. An extension of Paris La Défense's strategy for the reallocation of space under the slab, this facility is open to all and offers approximately 1,000 m² of space, including:
- a health center connected to the Foch Hospital in Suresnes,
- an imaging center,
- and a pharmacy.
On the Iris side, the wooden “commercial shell” designed by Tolila + Gilliland Atelier Architecture houses two restaurants. A terrace overlooking the new plantings brings the square to life.
Nearby, the concrete kiosk of the Iris car park has been given a new modern look to better blend in with its surroundings. Opposite, on the north side, the new brasserie in the new “lantern” pavilion of the Aurore tower will be open to all.
The shops in the Reflets patio can assert themselves and become a new destination for employees and residents alike. Open onto the Place des Reflets and visible from the Place de l'Iris, they now enjoy a new appeal.
Better traffic flow in the neighborhood
The staircase connecting the Reflets and Iris levels plays a direct role in the commercial dynamics of the Reflets patio. Coupled with an elevator kiosk, it makes the patio easy to spot, reach, and navigate.
The staircase planned between the Aurore and Manhattan towers is an additional link that helps eliminate the barrier effect of the business district slab and opens up the Iris level onto the circular boulevard.
Near Tower D2, a new staircase provides access to Allée Marvingt. Equipped with two bicycle-accessible elevators, this new access point complements the Reflets footbridge, which was modernized in 2020, and allows cyclists to easily connect the La Défense plateau to the city of Courbevoie, towards the circular boulevard and Rue de Strasbourg.