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Montparnasse Station

SNCF Gares et Connexions, Altarea Cogedim - Paris

Innovative continuity

After two years of design and four years of construction, the Gare Montparnasse is transformed.
This ambitious redevelopment and modernization project, jointly led by SNCF Gares & Connexions and Altarea Commerce, was designed by Agence Jouin Manku, founded by architect-designer duo Sanjit Manku and Patrick Jouin, AREP, a multi-disciplinary architecture agency and subsidiary of SNCF Gares & Connexions, and SLA Architecture, a specialist in industrial and tertiary sectors. The specifications called for the station to be made more functional and to meet the ever-increasing number of users (77 million visitors a year, and 90 million in the long term). A station that favors intermodality, lets in light and opens onto the city.

One of the major objectives of the Paris-Montparnasse transformation project was to bring natural light into all levels of the station, from the metro to the cross platform near the tracks. The aim of renovating this incredible architectural space was to bring a sense of luminosity, light intensity and clarity. In addition to natural light, particular attention was paid to the station's lighting ambience.
The idea behind artificial lighting, both day and night, is not only to create a luminous space, but also to guide station customers between vertical connections and horizontal passages. The aim is to make it easier for passengers to understand where they're going, when they're going and where they're going, as well as to create a sense of comfort in a complex space. The station's lighting ambience was designed in collaboration with the "L'Observatoire International" design office.
"We have reorganized the incoming and outgoing flows so that there are no more crossovers at the time of the intense influx of users.
Physically, we removed steps, reconsidered the layout of staircases and escalators, and judiciously placed elevators."
Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku - Jouin Manku
Stations connect places, people and goods, but they also represent the very first perception of a city. The new Paris-Montparnasse station aims to provide a unique setting for travelers, visitors and residents alike.
The starting point for this architectural reflection is the user, the traveler who takes the TGV and the neighbor who uses the station every day.

PROCESS

At the end of a construction project carried out without interrupting traffic, the station is transformed into a new living space, connected to the city and the neighborhood, entirely redesigned to offer greater comfort, shops and services as well as innovative concepts.

Key figures

Area:

40000m2, including 15000 m2 of public space

Capacity:
130 shops, services and restaurants

Traffic figures and users:
- 200,000 visitors/day. By 2050, this number will have doubled.
- 70 million passengers today
- 60% of users use the station for business purposes, including 34% for their daily commute
- 30% for leisure
- 4th busiest station in Paris

Information

Architectural concept, 
interior architecture and design
     
Jouin Manku 
Patrick Jouin
Sanjit Manku
Jacques Goubin
-
Yann Brossier
Mathias Debien
Bruno Pimpanini
Axel Mak
François Isone

ClientSNCF Gares & connexions / Altarea Commerces

Artistic directionAtelier d’architecture / JOUIN MANKU / AREP

Project Management GroupAtelier d’architecture / AREP / JOUIN MANKU / SLA / Jacobs France / Nox

Lighting DesignerL'Observatoire International

Engineers teamJacobs (study phase)
Builders (execution phase)
SLA Architecture
Atelier TESS (commercial façades)
Hugh Dutton & Associés (passage way)

General contractorDumez 
Axima
Inéo
SBM

PartnersGagne Construction Métallique
Setal Structure Aluminium
Odeli Lighting Factory
Métal Creation
Augagneur
Saga 

Year2021

Credits

Gare Montparnasse, Jouin Manku © Eric Laignel