A metro station in the heart of a public square with remarkable heritage. Anatole France square, at the foot of the Saint Martin church, in a dense and constrained urban context, The Oullins Centre station’s entrance hopper is subtly connected to the commercial façades on the south, enhancing the square’s geometry and keeping it cohesive. This loophole device creates a side façade that accompanies daylight to the level of the ticket lobby located 11 meters below. The feeling of depth is thus minimized. The underground public spaces, designed as parts of the city on a human scale, provide a straightforward, rational, evident, and effective overview experience for users. The translation of church materials (tones and geometric patterns) in the treatment of underground spaces creates a dialogue between the city and the station then perceived as the natural extension of public outdoor spaces.
