Stunning prefab OxyGen project will deliver a green oasis to Paris

A gorgeous oasis of greenery is coming to Paris’ major business district, La Défense. French design studio Stephane Malka recently unveiled OxyGen, their proposal to transform a bridge straddling the Seine River into a lush green-roofed development complete with gardens and restaurants. The project’s restaurants and open kiosks will be prefabricated and assembled onsite to minimize construction noise and pollution.

Located between the train tracks and the banks of Neuilly sur Seine, the 1,500-square-meter OxyGen development will be sited on a highly visible and elevated area of La Défense. The semi-circular site, which the architects liken to the bow of the La Défense ship, will serve as a gateway to the district and gathering space on the Le Grand Parvis promenade. “Thus, La Defense bow is transformed, and opens a ‘camouflage’ park, a blend between Architecture and Landscape, with an inhabited bridge opened on the Seine: a new playground for both La Defense and Paris,” write the architects.

The landscape design blends the styles of 19th century romantic gardens with a more contemporary aesthetic. Inspired by Paris’ Tivoli gardens, OxyGen will feature a varied palette of bushes and grasses, as well as more sculptural garden elements to offer shelter from the elements. Kiosks will punctuate the landscaped parks. As per Stephane Malka’s usual style, the structures will be prefabricated off-site then installed on-site for a less wasteful and more eco-friendly footprint.