A new urban landscape, echoing the winding shapes of peninsulas and meandering rivers, extends the Parc des Arènes park

Redesigning the grounds for the Dax performance hall is the first step in revitalizing this threshold into the city of Dax. Located in a flood zone, at the one-time confluence of the Adour River and the Pédouille Stream, the project site is a backfilled riparian environment. Our design returns the landscape to its roots. The Parc des Arènes park and the Maurice Boyau stadium and sports complex are combined to create a vast cultural and recreational park. This naturalistic, regreened, and densely planted environment unfurls from east to west. The nearby river landscape is recreated throughout the park, becoming a visceral presence evident in the various open spaces. Echoing the winding shapes of peninsulas and meandering rivers, a simple and evocative landscape design unfolds at varying scales, from park, to plaza grounds, to parking areas. Broad promenades and smaller pathways crisscross this network of vast planted spaces. This new threshold into the Dax downtown area is rendered clearer, calmer, and greener, creating a cohesive multi-use space perfect for welcoming cultural, festive, and sporting events alike, alongside the moments in between.