A Historic Park with a Modern Ecological Touch

In Levallois-Perret, on the outskirts of Paris, Parc de la Planchette awakens the senses. The pond’s renovation focused on increasing biodiversity and enhancing the experience. This dual approach has a positive impact on both nature and people.

Parc de la Planchette is a 3.5-hectare park that has been open to the public since 1924. It is located in the heart of the municipality and, as the largest park in the densely populated area, serves an important public function. Creating a larger water feature in the park helps reduce heat stress in the neighbourhood. After some discussion within the municipal council, regional subsidies enabled the creation of a nature-inclusive pond that is now teeming with species.

The design for the intervention was created by Land’Act, a firm with four offices in France specializing in landscape architecture, urban planning, and ecology. This renowned design agency has its headquarters a ten-minute walk from the park. The ecological pond, with carefully selected plants, will be completely naturally filtered. The new bridge and viewing platform will bring people closer to the water.

A Bridge that Connects People and Nature

Streetlife’s Bowie Serpentine Bridge follows the meandering path, naturally guiding walkers across the water. On either side of the bridge, you can hear the falling water. The high handrail invites you to lean back and gaze out over the water. Depending on the season, you can observe fish, waterfowl, or skaters. On the other side of the water, the viewing platform is designed in the same style as the bridge, creating a unified whole. The stainless steel balusters are crisscrossed and evoke the grasses along the banks.

The municipality chose the exceptionally sustainable Bamboo Brown material for the handrail. The long bamboo fibres are compressed under high temperature and pressure, a process that gives the material its deep brown colour. Over time, Bamboo Brown will turn grey through exposure to the outdoors, similar to wood. The visible fibres create variations in colour and texture on the smooth surface. Bamboo Brown is carbon neutral and recyclable. LED lighting beneath the handrail gives the fence a magical glow after sunset.

Efficient Construction and Lasting Benefits

Streetlife designs its bridges in-house and delivers them prefabricated to the site. This allowed the contractor, Val d’Oise Paysage, to install the bridge and platform in a single day. Constructing this curved bridge in two sections allowed for more efficient transport to Levallois-Perret.

The Land’Act plan not only invests in increasing biodiversity but also in providing opportunities to enjoy it. This has a much greater impact than the previous situation. Allowing visitors to experience the return of butterflies, lizards, amphibians, birds, and lush vegetation can foster greater engagement and have a positive impact on public health.

Project Facts

Location: Parc de la Planchette, Levallois-Perret (FR)
Streetlife Products: Bowie Serpentine Bridge
Delivery: 2023
Landscape architect: Land’Act, Paris