In 2021, the 10.3 km long tram line T9 was opened, connecting Paris with Orly. It is capable of transporting up to 80,000 people per day. The new line includes a tram depot, maintenance centre, and the central command centre. The buildings, designed by Ferrier Marchetti Studio, are located on a 4.4-hectare site and pay homage to the 19th century factories that line the Seine with their sloping roofs.
The depot will form part of the new Grand Voeux district, which has been earmarked for further development and is also meant to open up the previously inaccessible Seine riverbank. A close connection between architecture and landscape will characterise the new district. Green areas surround the depot, and there is also a courtyard with a covered garden.
The striking depot roof with its folded silhouette give the functional buildings a high design quality and outline a skyline when approached from a distance. Hot dip galvanized steel structures, in conjunction with large glass surfaces, emphasise the industrial character of the buildings and elevate them to the landmark of the new district.
Large windows allow for unrestricted views of the depot, even at night, as there is almost continuous activity, with only a few hours of closure per day. In addition to design and functionality, durability was of great importance which is reflected in the decision to use galvanized steel.
Photos © Luc Boegly
