The role of a local interest committee is not limited to raising the problems of a neighborhood. In any case, this is not how Toulon Centre-Ville intends to operate. He also wants to be a source of proposals.
The proof is, he brought together his members a few days ago to draw the contours of the future of the Porte d’Italie.
For the occasion, one of its members, retired architect Théo Gautier, presented a whole body of work on the subject.
“I took several weeks to observe, with an eye that is both candid and professional. But let us be in agreement, what I present is only my opinion, my vision of what we could do “he declares in the preamble.
The observation
The area studied borders medieval and pedestrian Toulon. It is the eastern gateway to the city.
First observation: the scope is very diverse. Between facilities (shopping center, university, etc.), green spaces and historical heritage… But without any real link between them. “There is a lack of an overall vision, insists the architect. And to do this, we will have to work on traffic, which is particularly important in this area.”
Place Vallée
Place Vallée is “a priority issue” according to Théo Gautier. “It’s the place for all cars. Being a pedestrian there is like an obstacle course. The road is very wide. It completely blocks the connection between the old town and the ramparts.”
The professional dreams of transferring the premises to an entirely pedestrian area where it would be nice to walk, stop for a coffee, etc.
To do this, he suggests starting the hopper which leads to the port further up the street. “We can even imagine it starting just below Place Noël-Blache,” he dreams.
Douaumont Square
The advantage of Place de Douaumont: the immense lawn esplanade. Certainly, the pedestrian path deserves improvements. With the parking lots underneath, it is not possible to plant large trees. “But this square offers a beautiful perspective, an airlock between the east of the city and the center. We just need to reinforce this impression with enhancement.”
This development could notably take the form of a greenway at the top of the ramparts. Another important point: the old railway line must, according to him, be completely covered to ensure landscape continuity.
The Bir Hakeim roundabout
Another important element of the district: the Bir Hakeim roundabout which concentrates a lot of traffic.
Théo Gautier identifies two working hypotheses concerning him.
In the first, he imagines the Champ de Mars restored to its original dimensions. “A small part of Boulevard Clemenceau would then be covered by a large garden. Traffic could be diverted to the north of the Champ de Mars on one side, and along the law school on the other.”
The second possibility is based on the route of the future “superbus” of the metropolis. Cars would no longer be allowed to drive between the law school and the EDF building. Only public transport on its own site would run on this artery.
If he is well aware that these prospects are only the fruit of a citizen approach, Théo Gautier, like the entire CIL, hopes that this could give ideas to elected officials to transform the Porte d’Italie.
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