Quartier des vergersChampigneulles / Frouard (54)

Today considered at the territorial scale, in connection with the major developments underway on the hillsides and in the Meurthe Valley, the Vergers project is part of the development of the South-West Arc. This context leads to a broader reflection on the accessibility of ongoing projects in the area and encourages a deeper exploration of connectivity issues, soft mobility, calm and safe movement—all in coherence with the landscape framework, a strong component of the heritage of the Pompey Basin Community of Municipalities (Communauté de Communes du Bassin de Pompey).

The project proposes a mixed-use program combining housing and craft activities, reestablishing urban continuity between Frouard and Champigneulles. By promoting short supply chains, natural spaces become productive : orchards, community and shared gardens serve as unifying places oriented toward small-scale agriculture. The natural springs present on the site shape a preserved wet landscape, forming the true backbone of the Vergers neighborhood.

The project highlights the site’s geography and introduces new pathways that connect previously disconnected areas. It reveals forgotten routes between the wooded plateau of the fort, the overgrown terraces of former orchards, and the canal below. These connections help frame views of the valley while telling the story of the place.

The project creates a garden city made up of clustered individual houses and multi-family housing, arranged along the slope to preserve views for all. Further down, a craft village is laid out in blocks organized around shared courtyards, fostering conviviality and synergies between activities.

Most of the site is envisioned as a system of complementary parks: the biodiversity park, a reserve crossed by a few existing paths; the park of forgotten apples, dedicated to family and shared gardens; and the valley park, which highlights the stream, the hillside’s geology, and its unique springs.