The series of buildings and pavilions designed by AWP and HHF are part of a new 113 ha large public park along the Seine river, in Carrière-Sous- Poissy, located in the Greater Paris area and close to Le Corbusier’s renowned Villa Savoye. The park — designed by agence TER — is an ecological showcase and a leisure destination for people living in and around Paris. The site of the project is exceptional. Along one edge is the Seine river. The presence of barges, fishing huts and houseboats, which have inhabited it until now, has been a powerful source of inspiration. Along the other edge is nondescript, suburban detached housing. The design springs from a process of hybridization between these

two existing habitat models. Among other public infrastructures such as a visitor’s center, a restaurant and an observatory, the competition brief included the construction of a museum to exhibit a large collection of insects, both living and conserved. With the exception of the observatory, which is a steel construction, the collection of pavilions and small «follies» is based on a modular wood system, repeating and combining different sized and angled timber frames. This approach allowed for interesting and unusual constructions, enabling a wide range of possible variations with a limited number of elements. At the same time the low priced construction method enabled the integration of local building know-how and local companies. Photos : Julien Lanoo