Charras Centre Market Hall Public Car Park and Esplanade by croixmariebourdon architectes associés

The Charras Centre, originally built in 1969 in Courbevoie near La Défense, is a major urban complex integrating residential towers, public facilities, a shopping centre, hotel, and multiple car parks. croixmariebourdon architectes associés has undertaken the revitalization of the complex through the Market Hall, Public Car Park, and Esplanade project, aligning with a phased operational plan that restructures and extends the outdated shopping centre. The project addresses the need for modern, functional public spaces while ensuring the complex continues to operate during construction.

Strategically located within a dense urban environment, the Charras Centre Market Hall serves as a catalyst for connectivity, bridging the shopping centre, town hall, and surrounding streets through a unified, open public promenade.

Market Hall as the Heart of the Complex

The new market hall is designed as a lively, multifunctional hub, open to all and catering to both traders and visitors. Constructed perpendicular to the street for maximum visibility, the hall extends toward the centre of the site, enhancing pedestrian access and connection with surrounding urban functions. Its elliptical form and pitched roof allow the building to blend harmoniously with adjacent structures while providing a distinct presence on the street front. The building’s sloping design transitions between heights of neighboring buildings, offering a visually integrated yet dynamic urban composition.

Inside, the hall hosts traders three days per week, while other functions such as a brasserie and concierge services expand its utility during extended opening hours. Each market stall is designed for flexibility with versatile metal units, enabling traders to adapt their spaces while maintaining a cohesive commercial identity. The brasserie spans two floors, opening directly onto the market and contributing to a vibrant, interactive atmosphere.

Public Car Park and Urban Integration

A critical component of the project is the 600-space underground car park, organized across three floors. Its design overcame complex site constraints, including co-owned properties, poorly identified utility networks, and an active urban heating system. Despite these challenges, the parking structure achieves efficient circulation and functional clarity, while maintaining continuity with public areas above.

The project also introduces a north-south public path, increasing visibility and accessibility, connecting the market hall, car park, and esplanade to major urban routes. This circulation strategy transforms the previously fragmented complex into a cohesive urban node, integrating commercial, residential, and civic functions.

Architectural and Material Strategy

The design emphasizes high-quality, sustainable materials, combining timber, varnished tiles, glass, and steel to create an elegant, long-lasting aesthetic. These materials enhance both visual appeal and functional durability, ensuring the market hall and surrounding infrastructure are resilient to high pedestrian traffic and diverse uses.

Externally, the esplanade balances practicality with urban design excellence, integrating greenery, rainwater management, and adaptable structures for temporary outdoor traders. This thoughtful treatment ensures the development responds effectively to residential and commercial contexts, while enhancing public experience and environmental quality.

Flexibility and Multi-Use Functionality

The Charras Centre Market Hall project prioritizes versatility and adaptability. The hall’s design allows for market trading, dining, and community interaction, reflecting contemporary trends in mixed-use urban spaces. The flexible layout encourages a dynamic use of space, ensuring the building remains vibrant beyond traditional market hours.

The project’s multi-level structure, combining underground parking with above-ground public spaces, demonstrates efficient spatial planning and strategic use of a constrained urban site. This design approach maximizes functionality without compromising aesthetic or environmental quality.

Urban and Social Impact

By integrating the market hall, public car park, and esplanade, the project revitalizes the Charras Centre as a community-oriented hub. The design enhances pedestrian movement, public engagement, and social cohesion, transforming the site from a fragmented urban complex into a modern, accessible, and inviting environment.

The careful orchestration of commercial, civic, and leisure functions strengthens the Charras Centre’s role as a central urban node, improving connectivity between La Défense, Courbevoie, and the surrounding residential neighborhoods.

Conclusion

The Charras Centre Market Hall, Public Car Park, and Esplanade project by croixmariebourdon architectes associés demonstrates how thoughtful architectural interventions can revitalize aging urban complexes. Through a combination of functional innovation, material quality, and public accessibility, the project creates a vibrant, multi-use destination while respecting the site’s historical context and urban fabric. By balancing practicality, flexibility, and aesthetic coherence, the Charras Centre emerges as a model for modern urban redevelopment, enhancing social, commercial, and environmental outcomes.

Photography: Takuji Shimmura