The public spaces in the town center of Garches concentrate the main activities and facilities of the city. However, inherited from 1980s urban planning, they now offer little flexibility for user appropriation and often facilitate misuse. It is essential to design a town center that encourages pedestrian movement and connects transportation, facilities, shops, and the market to revitalize the central area of Garches. Improving the quality of public spaces, making them accessible to soft mobility, and restoring meaning to this historic center—where landmarks such as the Saint-Louis Church, the market square, the town hall, the cultural center, the media library, sports facilities, and the war memorial coexist—is crucial.

The project aims to slow down vehicle traffic and provide better pedestrian crossings by treating the entire town center as a level plateau. The ground coverings (light stone pavers) create a homogeneous mineral space, making the town center more legible and giving it a distinctive identity. The landscaping continues from existing greenery, filtering daily routes and cooling the spaces. The public spaces are treated with continuity, widened, and secured where possible, generating areas with diverse identities and uses. The heart of Garches thus offers space occupations for all its residents, both young and old.