This project is an opportunity to showcase the heritage of Lausanne, its geographical and historical context, whether it be landscape or built. The intention is to transform a complex urban infrastructure, dominated by traffic lanes, into a calm, unified city district, open to pedestrians: a radical transformation of the place to serve people rather than automobiles, a hub of soft mobility.

These new relationships allow for an inclusive project, shaping an open and cosmopolitan square that becomes a space supporting daily public life. The Place du Tunnel becomes a major public space, capable of hosting various programs and meeting the needs of diverse users. This includes treating the ground floor relationship in a way that highlights the heritage quality of the buildings in direct interaction with the project; providing spaces for relaxation, meetings, and quality activities allowing users to safely appropriate the place; preserving flat surfaces for temporary installations or small neighborhood markets; and implementing a city-defined program integrating a socio-cultural animation space and a space dedicated to contemporary art.

The main challenge lies in organizing the program rigorously, integrating an inclusive and accessible route throughout the entire area that considers all users. Similarly, the design of the lighting project and urban furniture aims to be sensitive to the context and respond coherently to the issues at hand.

The new identity is highlighted by reclaiming parking spaces to accommodate the expected uses of a major square, articulating a predominant neighborhood life with downtown uses. Thus, pedestrians are placed at the heart of reflections by developing generous, continuous, direct, and intuitive public spaces and routes on which to move safely and to erase, as much as possible, the road aspect of the way.

Finally, the adaptability of spaces according to demands aims to maximize the offer of opportunities to future users.

The project aims to radically transform the mineral and harsh perception of Place du Tunnel and its surroundings by establishing a central area of ​​over 4000m2 of open ground where the development of new species will take place. The new identity of Place du Tunnel alludes to its origins linked to the layout of the Louve and the ecological corridor that stems from it.

The new species replace the existing alignments, associated with the roadway, to integrate the whole into this new logic, with the conquest of vegetation as a manifestation of change. The principle of tree planting is articulated between a dialogue with the existing and the consolidation of a specific identity for Place du Tunnel. The existing large plane trees are highlighted, the new plantations are divided into two groups: those from the world of the meadow, the park, and those from the world of the river, aiming to increase plant diversity and rebuild a forgotten landscape. Additionally, the new plantations achieve a coverage of over 50% of the site, transforming it into a climate refuge.

Type: Public Space Status: Invited Competition Unbuilt Size: 20 000 m2 Collaborators: Arriola & Fiol