The redevelopment of the Parc du Cypressat is part of a more integrated, global project for improving the Parc des Coteaux in the Hauts de Garonne. This escarpment rises a dominating 70 metres above the Garonne plain at the edge of Bordeaux. The park is currently extremely secret and almost inaccessible but it represents a rare natural element in a context which is predominately urban.
The designers were presented with the task of progressively transforming the space into a public park in a way which would permit the Parc du Cypressat to reveal itself fully and gain a regional dimension as a model of excellence in the redevelopment of natural space. The project envisages the transformation of the park into a form of pivot capable of reuniting the plateau (haut de Cenon) with the town below. Further interventions are conceived to highlight the qualities of the site: of its built heritage as well as its water, plants, viewing platforms and height differences...
The project for redeveloping the Parc du Cypressat exploits the theme of the cypress tree, including plans to incorporate several hundred such trees from around the world. It is intended that the presentation of this particular collection of cypresses should highlight the diversity of the genre and of the environments which it has colonised across the ages. This is the first arboretum devoted to this subject across France and in Europe. The park is to retain its strong natural character but it should also be welcoming to the public and become a place of rest, rediscovery and the enjoyment of the panoramic views. The children’s play areas and other tools of discovery lend the park a special appeal for ecological school classes and other public groups.
