Parco di Robersart  Wambrechies, France

The park of Robersart, located in the heart of the city of Wambrechies, is located in a strategic position to become an attraction of the city itself. Following the study “Framework of life”, priority actions were put in place in the city: the restoration of the Castle and the Church of Saint Vaast, the redevelopment of the streets of the historic center and the reorganization of the Piazza del Castello. The project for the redevelopment of the Robersart park is part of the continuity of these actions. In the years of sustainable development, this park, in the center and in direct contact with the river Deûle, assumes the potential to become a public space of reference respectful of the natural environment and the expectations of future users.

The project of the park, located in close relationship with the city, focuses on strong themes such as the enhancement of the entrances to the park and public spaces of the city and the creation of a path in continuity with the existing public spaces. The redevelopment of the place takes place through work on the limits, such as the plant, able to signal the presence of the river Deûle and to strengthen the identity of the park itself. The project focuses on the connections between park, city and river and for this purpose it intends to strengthen the two main routes considering the habits of the park users: the north-south route between the heart of the city and the hill of the “Little Paradise” and the east-west route between the Obert Street, the music stand and the Deûle River, strengthening the physical relations between the park and the river. From the analysis of the site, three main themes emerge, three design ambitions. The first entity emphasizes the evocative spirituality of the place, the entity of the historical and festive heritage through the different historical elements of the site, namely the castle, the classical garden, the pond, the main avenue in axis with the kiosk and the “garden of memories”. The second is the extent of leisure and culture that includes the fishing pond and the arboretum; this entity is characterized by a sequence of wetlands in physical relationship with the river. And finally, the entity of fun and relaxation, with playful lounges and picnic areas, which organized around a large parterre that collects all the activities dedicated to families.

Another fundamental theme is the concept of limit: the limits are based on the relationships that the park has with the urban and natural environment. In this context, the project elaborates three types of limits: a limit without visual interruption between the park and the river called “wolf jump”, a classic limit, of “historical” type in relation to the Castle and a boundary plant of the park. Our project, aiming at sustainability, wants to emphasize the presence of water in the site. Water must contribute to the biodiversity of the area, to the feeding and reproduction of the species that inhabit the park, such as amphibians, dragonflies, birds, as well as aquatic plants. A qualitative framework that makes our project a project of sustainable architecture.