High Garden proposal takes shape on Rueil-Malmaison brownfield site

Hamonic+Masson & Associés secured the commission for High Garden, a mixed-use neighborhood on a former industrial site in the Arsenal eco-district of Rueil-Malmaison.

The project emerged from the Inventons la Métropole du Grand Paris 2 competition, which sought designs for several locations inside the greater Paris boundaries. Officials wanted schemes that could deliver metropolitan-scale buildings while creating lively, attractive places to live and work. The Rueil-Malmaison entry responded directly to that brief by placing housing, offices and public spaces on land previously used for industrial activity.

Why the timing matters for Paris suburbs

Paris continues to face pressure to expand housing supply beyond the historic core. Suburban sites such as the Arsenal eco-district offer room for larger projects that can incorporate green space and new amenities without displacing existing residents. High Garden was presented as one way to turn underused land into a functioning neighborhood that links to the wider metropolitan area.

The design includes apartment buildings arranged around a central park, smaller pavilion structures and a food hall intended to serve both residents and visitors. Renderings show tree-lined streets and elevated views that emphasize connections between buildings and open ground. These elements were developed to meet the competition requirement for an eco-district that feels dynamic rather than purely residential.

How the plan fits ongoing suburban renewal

Competition entries like High Garden sit within a longer effort to improve living conditions in western Paris suburbs. Rueil-Malmaison already hosts transport links that connect it to central Paris, making it a logical place for new housing and services. The project’s brownfield location avoids greenfield development while adding density in an area where many older industrial parcels remain vacant.

Details released with the winning entry show a focus on mixed uses that could support daily needs on site. Apartment views, ground-level retail and public gathering spaces were all part of the submission. The scheme was judged on its ability to create a complete neighborhood rather than isolated buildings.

Further steps now depend on coordination between the architects, local authorities and developers. Site preparation and permitting would follow standard procedures for projects inside the Grand Paris perimeter. Updates on construction timelines or revisions to the original concept have not yet been published.

Source: ArchDaily, 3 July 2019, https://www.archdaily.com/920251/hamonic-plus-masson-reimagine-suburban-paris-with-new-neighborhood-plan