Ceramic Paving in Niel Gardens | Flexbrick

As part of an urban operation of reconversion, the old parade ground of the Niel barracks military enclosure was transformed into a site of housing and facilities. Part of the urban renewal included changing the topography and design of the landscape. Flexbrick pavements were used as a ground solution.

Reconversion Solution

Built at the end of the 19th century the large rectangular parade ground measures at 220 by 90 meters. Designed by the firm Michele & Miquel Architecture, the solution to the reconversion was to raise the ground and create a new topography using the earth extract from the excavation of the basements of the adjacent buildings. The new topography accentuates the relief and evokes the hilly landscape of Toulouse, Lauragais, and Volvestre.

Pavement Design

The pavement, totally permeable, is made of large "carpets" of Flexbrick pavements arranged in strips 1m wide by 10m long, parallel to the facades of the former military buildings. Formed by ceramic pieces of 30x5x6cm -dimension of the traditional toulousaine brick- "woven" to a metallic mesh with galvanized steel wire. Thanks to the flexibility of this mesh, the whole can deform and adapt perfectly to the undulations of the ground.

The new Niel garden offers a dynamic space, with multiple environments that use the same design language. A language guided by the topography and the material that merge into a single intervention where everything seems evident.

Project Details