Lise Meitner Square is part of the experimental housing project START in Ivry, which also comprises five residential buildings and two pedestrian alleys. Interestingly, the square was never originally planned. Its realisation required overcoming major exploitation constraints linked to two 1,500- metre-deep geothermal wells on site, which initially demanded a fenced, asphalted, and inaccessible area. However, through collaborative negotiations we secured the development of this new public space. Though shaped by constraints, Lise Meitner Square is ultimately a gift to the neighbourhood: a fully open, inclusive public space.
Lise Meitner; The Square that was not meant to exist. Lise Meitner Square is part of the experimental housing project START in Ivry-sur-Seine, which also comprises five residential buildings and two pedestrian alleys. Interestingly, the square was never originally planned. Its realisation required overcoming significant exploitation constraints linked to two 1,500-metre-deep geothermal wells on site, which initially demanded a fenced-off, asphalted, and inaccessible area. However, through collaborative negotiations and despite strict technical and budget limitations, we secured the development of this new public space.
Though shaped by constraints, Lise Meitner Square is ultimately a gift to the neighbourhood: a fully open, inclusive public space. Such an arrangement would have seriously compromised the quality of life for the nearly 300 families living in START. After a long negotiation process with the geothermal operator, we secured
the creation of a 2,600 m² public space—transforming a technical limitation into a meaningful urban asset. Though shaped by constraints, Lise Meitner Square is ultimately a gift to the neighbourhood: a fully open, inclusive public space. Lise Meitner Square occupies a privileged location on the Seine riverfront, just 400 metres from the future ‘Parc de la Confluence’, at the heart of the ZAC Ivry-Confluences urban renewal zone in Ivry-sur-Seine.
The design of the square highlights the geothermal energy system right in its centre. The choice of materials responds to the strict maintenance constraints associated with the geothermal infrastructure, while the colour palette aligns with the overall identity of the START project. With its triangular form, it connects to neighbouring public areas. The two newly created pedestrian alleys link the square to the main pedestrian flows of the neighbourhood. Due to the presence of two 1,500-metre-deep geothermal wells beneath the square which provide heating for a large part of the city, tall plantings and fixed furniture were prohibited, and much of the surface had to remain waterproof and extremely robust to support heavy maintenance vehicles.
Moreover, the square was never originally planned—there was no budget allocated for its creation. However, through close collaboration with the architects of the surrounding five buildings, we were able to liberate a budget of €642,000 excl. VAT to make it possible. (Note: The accompanying images illustrate the finalisation phase of the square. Mid-height planting around the circular zones is yet to be completed. Professional photography will follow.) Three main themes structured the layout and materialisation of this “miraculous” square:
1. The Geothermal Energy
The square’s design seeks to reveal, rather than conceal, the geothermal infrastructure at its core. The two wells and their safety zones are celebrated as central elements, rather than hidden away. Each wellhead requires a 15-metre-radius waterproof safety zone, materialised as an orange asphalt ring that evokes the visual language of athletics tracks—suggesting movement, running, or cycling. This gives the square its distinct oval form. Inside the oval, a large white “Super Zebra” graphic emphasises the pedestrian nature of the square. Two other floor markings animate the oval:
– A “mini masterplan” depicting the iconic footprints of the five surrounding buildings
– A quote by Françoise Héritier, the French anthropologist and feminist:
« Respirer l’odeur secrète du goudron et de la mer dans les cheveux de quelqu’un qu’on aime… » (“Breathing the secret smell of tar and sea in the hair of someone you love…”) As fixed furniture is prohibited, all elements—fitness equipment, protection barriers—are removable. The two wellheads are left in bare concrete, deliberately raw and visible. Metal chairs, also removable, are arranged on the north side of the square, their colours reflecting the START palette.
2. The Four Paths
Two new pedestrian alleys connect the main avenue to the square. The northern alley opens up to a view of the iconic cable footbridge over the Seine. Both are paved in beige deactivated concrete, and lined with five benches per alley, each bench shaped like the footprint of one of the surrounding buildings and integrated with lighting. A third path borders the square to the sout—a 6-metre-wide strip of brushed concrete, heavy-duty and road-like in appearance. It serves only for maintenance and delivery access. Retractable bollards at each end regulate entry, and the rough finish communicates the limited speed of vehicles. A fourth path, in deactivated concrete, runs along the north edge of the square, framing it against the adjacent building façade.
3. The Three “Zones”
Three circular areas are designated as flexible-use zones—for sports, fitness, café terraces, etc.—each materialised with a different treatment:
-Red flexible surface
-Beige deactivated concrete
-Low grass
The remaining surface is planted with mid-height grasses and perennials, forming soft borders around the circular zones. In line with geothermal safety restrictions, the planting is limited to vegetation between 50 cm and 1 m in height, depending on season. The planting palette includes evergreen, wind-responsive grasses such as feathergrass, fescue, and hairgrass. Accents of blue are introduced through perennial oats, and delicate green and purple spikelets punctuate the surface. These light, constantly shifting plants create a relaxing and sensorial experience throughout the square.
The wild grasses form a contemplative, blooming landscape throughout the summer, attracting bees, butterflies, birds, and small animals. This natural ecosystem is complemented by biodiversity features: piles of drilled logs, light stones, sand mounds, and bird nesting boxes designed to support various species.
