Bjarke Ingels announces surprise appearance in Paris for public discussion on BIG's EuropaCity plans
by Kim Megson | 27 May 2016
Bjarke Ingels has described EuropaCity as 'Paris 2.0' / BIG
Bjarke Ingels will participate in a public forum in Paris on 30 May to present the latest incarnation of his vision for EuropaCity – one of the largest leisure developments on the continent.
In a surprise announcement, Ingels’ studio BIG have invited Parisians to the session to learn about the project – which will create a new 80 acre urban centre between the city centre and Charles de Gaulle Airport. They will be able to quiz the BIG founder on his studio’s plans.
The talk will be held from 7pm at Bourse du Travail, 9-11 Rue Génin, Saint-Denis.
EuropaCity will include a selection of hotels, restaurants, theme parks, cultural sites, urban farmland, shopping centres and sports facilities which could host events at a potential Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The €3.1bn (US$3.5bn, £2.4bn) project – one of the largest ongoing leisure developments on the planet – has received major investment from Wanda, China’s largest private property developer.
Earlier this year, Ingels described the project as “a Paris 2.0 that sets a new standard for what a city can be.”
“We’ve tried to create a lively urban fabric that combines radically different streetscapes, both intimate and generous,” he added. “Some roofscapes kiss the ground, others are tall and invaded by greenery.”
France’s National Commission for Public Debate is hosting a series of open discussions about EuropaCity to facilitate a “real-time exchange and reflection” with residents of the Parisian suburbs close to the development site.
Developer Alliages hopes to reach public consensus so that construction can begin in 2017. The city is expected to open in 2024.
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Bjarke Ingels will participate in a public forum in Paris on 30 May to present the latest incarnation of his vision for EuropaCity – one of the largest leisure developments on the continent. In a surprise announcement, Ingels’ studio BIG have invited Parisians to the session to learn about the project – which will create a new 80 acre urban centre between the city centre and Charles de Gaulle Airport.
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