République SquareVilleneuve d’Ascq (59)

The Place de la République is a village square with its shops, church, and market days. It is located in the town of Annape, which is now part of the municipality of Villeneuve d'Ascq.

This development proposes an evolving public space that reconfigures according to the seasons and scheduled events. Thus, once a week, the market occupies the entire square. In the summer, café terraces are set up. In winter, more parking spaces are created for cars with removable urban furniture.

Beyond this flexibility, the square features a large smooth surface from facade to facade, with just a row of bricks at the base of the inhabited ground floors. This attention creates a distance between the homes and urban life, establishing a threshold that preserves their privacy and enhances their comfort.