Le Carré Uranus qui abritera un commissariat miste prend forme à la Mosson. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO
If the Esplanade is changing its face, many sites in Montpellier are doing the same this year. Here are a few.
Reopening in the spring for the Carré Sainte-Anne
The deconsecrated church has been closed to the public for seven years. ML – ML
The reopening of Saint-Anne was announced in May-June. The delivery of this €4.7 million project, financed by the City, has been postponed several times. It must be said that after cracks appeared in 2017, the site was closed as a safety measure, without work being started.
But this year, the slab has been poured and the deconsecrated neo-Gothic church is finally looking forward to reopening, more than 150 years after its completion (1872). The restoration of the Carré Sainte-Anne, a contemporary art space since 2011, will continue for a few more months.
In Montpellier, we dream of welcoming Chiharu Shiota back, who exhibited in 2013. The Japanese artist is currently exhibiting her majestic installations of woven threads at the Grand Palais in Paris.
The Assas Tower will soon be down
The deconstruction will be completed in April. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART
The “deconstruction” of the Tour d'Assas, dating from 1969, will be completed in April. The work, which began on September 23, consists of “nibbling away” at the building of 176 housing units from above. At a rate of one floor every two weeks, it will take another three months to complete the 22 floors.
Right next door, two other very important construction sites are underway. The new Neptune swimming pool is taking shape. The three pools will be accessible by December 2025, for a budget of €22.5 million. The multi-generational residence Cité Jardins and its 72 apartments on six floors will be completed this year, for €6.5 million.
A new perspective for the Esplanade
The Pavillon Populaire (right) will also be renovated. DR – Agence Ter
While the work is almost complete on the Place de la Comédie, it is the Esplanade and Boulevard Sarrail that are currently being renovated. Since access to the Comédie car park has been moved to Avenue Frédéric Mistral (from Avenue Pierre Mendès-France and Avenue Henri II de Montmorency), Boulevard Sarrail will become a quieter road with priority given to pedestrians. Car traffic will be limited to the riverside service.
On the Espalanade, the florist and food kiosks will have new architecture and harmonized terraces.
The renovation work on the Paul Boulet alley will take place until the summer of 2025. This large central alley of the Esplanade is being freed up to restore the historical perspective and its belvedere over the great landscape. This large open link between the Comédie and the Esplanade, towards the Corum and the Beaux-Arts, connects the cultural venues: Musée Fabre, Pavillon populaire, Espace Bagouet, Centre Rabelais.
This transformation is accompanied by a global program to enhance heritage, including the gradual restoration of the facades of the Opera, the Bosc kiosk and the statues of the Esplanade.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000A former emblematic stage of the Esplanade, the Bosc Kiosk by architect Élie Marcel Bernard will be restored in the spirit of its original design in the 1920s. Its corner fountain will be refilled with water. The inauguration is scheduled for June 21.
The Dominique Bagouet space will close from January 6 and the Pavillon populaire from February 10. Both will undergo renovation work.
The Comédie-Centre annex office of the National Police will be demolished in the coming weeks. The officials have already left the premises to move into the former TaM premises, opposite the Saint-Roch train station.
Still in the city center, the Place des Martyrs de la Résistance, in front of the prefecture, will be delivered on November 26. The work, costing €8 million, began last March. It will transform the square into a 3,000 m² pedestrian area around a wall of water and trees. The access staircase to the Foch-Préfecture car park will be redone, but access to the car park remains unchanged, with an exit onto the Place du Marché-aux-Fleurs.
The Creative City, a beehive in the making
The future Workshops of the Creative City. DR – Antonini architectes
The former military site of the Infantry Training School (1967-2010) is being transformed into a City dedicated to Cultural and Creative Industries (ICC). More than 30,000 m² of tertiary and commercial activities and more than 2,000 housing units (33% of which are social housing) are being built on this site, which will be served by tramway line 5.
Among the achievements expected by the end of 2025: the Mireille Laget nursery (48 cradles) in the old chapel. This year, the Ateliers (dedicated to the video game and special effects sector) and the Cocon (dedicated to the performing arts) construction sites are also being launched.
Renovated housing and a mixed police station
The curved facades will embellish the former Uranus residence in La Mosson. DR – imagine-architectest
Goodbye Uranus residence, hello Carré Uranus! In La Mosson, the thermal sieve of the 60s is giving way to curved facades housing 80 renovated social housing units, for €8 million.
On the ground floor, Carré Uranus will also house the city's first mixed police station, which will be inaugurated in February. The premises of the national police and the municipal police will be connected by two patios.
This building will be powered by the Nord Alco heating network, which will reduce CO2 emissions. It will face the future school city of the James Joyce, Boulloche and Roosevelt schools.
“Mille formes” will introduce 0-6 year olds to art
A place dedicated to the artistic awakening of toddlers. DR – City of Montpellier
A future art initiation center for 0-6 year olds, Mille formes will be located in the southern part of the former Federico Fellini media library, in the Antigone district, and will spread over 1,000 m². It will host the future functions of the site, according to a scenography developed in conjunction with a designer. This project is supported by the Centre Pompidou, based on the model of what has already been done in Clermont-Ferrand since 2019.
Montpellier has also signed an agreement with Clermont-Ferrand in which the latter grants the City of Montpellier the non-exclusive right to use the brand “mille formes, art initiation center for 0-6 year olds”. This agreement is valid for a period of three years.
The first stone will be laid in February for an opening at the end of 2025. This project contributes to realizing Montpellier's ambition to become a city for children.
Celleneuve will be transformed
The heart of the neighborhood, before and after renovation. DR – Photos Ville et Métropole de Montpellier (before) – NEMIS (after)
A year of work has begun in the old village of Celleneuve. The beautification project for the old town centre will begin on 6 January with the redevelopment of the south bank of the Route de Lodève, Place Renaudel and then the adjacent streets.
These projects will help reduce the space taken up by cars in favour of pedestrian facilities. The central areas will be covered in limestone and the more residential streets in ochre concrete.