the architectural jewel of the Compagnie de Phalsbourg in Nice [En images]

Amidst the decrepit facades of the buildings constructed in the 19th century around Nice train station, the building Iconic stands out. Its glass tip has already earned it the nickname “diamond” by the people of Nice. Designed by the architect Daniel Libeskind for the Phalsbourg Companythis 20,000 square meter building will accommodate eight activities: a performance hall, two schools connected to the station, a hotel Hilton 4 stars, offices, a sports hall, shops and a restaurant center within a green and secure promenade. The businesses were the first to open their doors with Uniqlo et Monoprix as a locomotive. Catering signs are also present such as Eric Kayser, Five Guys et Starbucks. “100% of the site’s spaces are sold,” welcomes Philippe Journo, founding president of the Compagnie de Phaslbourg. The 105-room Hilton hotel will open on July 4. The restaurants (eight in total) will open gradually until December. A pharmacy of the brand Elsie Health is also being set up. Schools will open for the start of the school year in September. The gym should also be ready for the fall. “The performance hall will be the last to open because for the moment, it is the only place where we can store construction materials,” says Philippe Journo.

Iconic in numbers

6 years of work
120 million euros of private investments
20,000 m2, the area of ​​the site
35 m high
2750 m2 dedicated to commerce
More than 250 jobs created
5 million visitors expected per year

The opening of Iconic is the culmination of the project of the Compagnie de Phalsbourg which won the Gare Thiers competition which had been launched by the Nice metropolitan area to revitalize the station district. The project represented an investment of 120 million euros. Six years of work were necessary for Iconic to emerge from the ground. The site has experienced many adventures between an SNCF transformer that had to be moved, a failing supplier, the pandemic… “We have been impatiently awaiting this magnificent achievement for several years. It was not a given to be able to have such ambitious architecture attached to a Haussmannian train station while we were in the middle of the UNESCO heritage classification procedure,” underlines Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice. The bet was won. Iconic will not be enough to revitalize the neighborhood, but the movement is underway. “This encourages new brands to set up around it. For example, in the building opposite, Normal will open soon,” welcomes Franck Martin, deputy mayor responsible for shops, markets and crafts and the Hauts de Nice region.

Visit in pictures

Uniqlo

Uniqlo chose Iconic for its first location in the city center of Nice. The brand has more than 1500 m2 spread over three floors. According to our information, the brand would have beaten its sales forecasts with 2.5 million euros in turnover achieved in the first month of operation.

Safe walk

Pedestrians going from the station to the tram have already got used to using the planted and secure promenade. All along this promenade, restaurants have been installed.

The big Blue

The facade of Iconic is covered with 20 Remex panels in different shades of blue that give the appearance of mermaid scales when the sun reflects on them. The architect wanted a blue building in homage to the blue of the sea that for him characterizes the city.

Illuminations

The building can be illuminated in various colors allowing, for example, to create the French flag for July 14, to offer various atmospheres depending on the news on the site.

Environment

Iconic has received the BREEAM “Very Good” certification. The building has 1,200 solar panels to produce the electricity needed for its operation.