Islet Saint Urbain Zac Etoile

We are convinced that this project has to create a link between two important districts in Strasbourg. The idea is to use a clearly aligned frontage to provide a sense of continuity between the two areas and to add a linking feature to the perspective connecting the Route du Polygone, the Cité de la Musique, the Place d’Austerlitz and the Cathedral. On a smaller scale, it seems appropriate to provide the city block with a certain amount of porosity, with openings that create a visual and physical relationship with the public spaces around the building. Standing at the intersection of important traffic routes in open surroundings, the Ilot Saint Urbain enjoys an unusual degree of visibility. We found the idea of building a vertical landmark here interesting, as it marks the entrance to Strasbourg. But this landmark also has to speak to the people of Strasbourg and contribute to the unity of the city. We are thus convinced that the entire block has to be treated as a remarkable entity, and its varying heights are designed to allow it to act as a landmark while remaining in keeping with the size of the surrounding buildings. This makes it possible to combine an urban scale with a more domestic scale. For clarity and operational efficiency, the different programmes that make up the Ilot Saint Urbain are organised in a simple way.