Avé l'été

Discipline : Product

Categories : Exterior / Urban Furniture & Streetscape Products : Gold certification

Avé l'été: Restoring Prestige to a Landmark Neighborhood

Thanks to a distinct identity design and flexible urban furniture, Avē l’été! brings vibrancy to the Latin Quarter throughout the summer. The temporary installations celebrate the francophone heritage, encourage interaction, and offer moments of pause and wonder at the heart of a lively and friendly neighborhood.

A Strong Identity to Mark the Renewal

Avē l’été! reaffirms the cultural vitality of the Latin Quarter, an area where vibrant terraces, street arts, and francophone history converge. Inspired by its Parisian namesake, the project offers a warm and contemporary summer experience that unifies the neighborhood's various cultural layers under a strong identity.

The identity approach developed draws from the iconic codes of Parisian awnings to build an instantly recognizable visual language. This identity unfolds through signage, urban displays, and the creation of thematic areas with decidedly Latin names. The neighborhood is transformed into an animated scene where culture, language, and architecture meet.

Custom Furniture Serving Programming

To support the summer programming, the design team developed a system of setups adapted to the varied uses of the neighborhood. The furniture is designed for significant flexibility in configurations, allowing the creation of zones conducive to social interactions, green spaces, or observation areas where one can stop to watch the neighborhood's life unfold.

The Chair: A Tool for Citizen Appropriation

As a central component, the self-service chair embodies the sought-after human scale. It is reorientable, enabling spontaneous small group formations, encouraging discussions, and supporting space appropriation. A discreet anchoring system prevents theft without limiting usage freedom, an essential balance for such a frequented neighborhood.

Integrated Greening

The plant palette, developed in harmony with the project's colors, contributes to the readability of the pedestrian path while providing shade, coolness, and comfort. Through its density and volume variations, it creates distinct atmospheres, ranging from intimate spaces to festive and lively zones.

Measurable Impacts: 1.1 million visitors, a 15% increase in foot traffic compared to the previous year

The project has led to increased visitation and high satisfaction levels: visitors stay longer, spend more, and greatly appreciate the urban installations. Avē l’été! thus demonstrates the ability of design to enhance the commercial, cultural, and identity vitality of a focal downtown area.

The project in images