Located in the Var Valley along the western edge of Nice, the ZAC Parc Méridia is a significant step for a metropolitan territory in transition. As a major urban, architectural, and landscape stage, the project constitutes the meeting point of diversity and desires: to make a more equitable city for its inhabitants; to shape an urban development with a compelling identity; and to weave a new link between the inhabitants and their natural environment, serving as a new green belt for the Var plain which links the Mercantour to the Mediterranean.

The development of a new residential district aims at fostering social and generational variety, including a large amount of social housing complemented by a range of public facilities meeting the daily needs of the residents. The image of the former agricultural landscape acted as a guide to reveal a landscape that playfully integrates water. Creating the link between an optimistic, innovative, and sustainable future with an agricultural past, the project centers nature at the heart of a more singular and coherent city – with vital consideration of the challenges of the 21st century and the expectations of citizens. The outcome is a large-scale reclamation of currently degraded land, where the design of the green spaces enhances the local biodiversity and mitigates climate change and develops a new relation towards its position in the valley regarding rainwater and the Var.

The approximately 64-hectare district incorporates a sensible granularity, granting urban quality with diverse uses, but also leaves more space for plants: large tree-planted strips along streets, an amplification of local and adapted species, to an extensive 20 hectares landscaped park offering residents a space for relaxation and leisure. Throughout, the design pursues a high quality of space for both pedestrians and soft mobility through connected infrastructures such as new bike lanes and smart city digital tools that improve the district’s accessibility and encourage walkable streets and shared spaces. Integral to the development is the concept of environmental innovation, augmented by the implementation of an urban agriculture chain is ranging from production to distribution, facilitating shorter circuits and fostering societal bonds between producers and consumers.

At Parc Méridia, the voices and visions of the citizens are the core of its development strategy, with local residents actively contributing to consultation workshops since 2020, shaping the project according to the area’s specific needs and establishing a sense of collective ownership.