Forecourt of Les Halles

From 4 March to 29 May 2019, the forecourt of Les Halles will be completely redeveloped . This square, with a surface area of almost 3,500 m², is covered with granite paving stones in the same spirit as the redevelopment of the city centre.

Outdoor markets are held on this square on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings, with optimum comfort and safety.

A touch of modernity has been added to the forecourt of Les Halles with La Feuille monumentale, a work in beaded stainless steel (beading is a surface treatment in which micro-beads are sprayed onto a stainless steel or aluminium part).

One of the proudest features of this sculpture is that it was made entirely on site: designed by Thierry and Michèle Kayo-Houël (artists living in Payns), with the help of the metal and ironmongery company Arts et Forges (in La Chapelle Saint-Luc) and the Ateliers de Carrosserie Bonenfant (in Buchères), it was finally transported and installed by Trans Manu Machines (based in Bréviandes), all with the support of the city of Troyes services.

As you have undoubtedly noticed, the work is reminiscent of the iconic statue of the Heart of Troyes , created by the same artists and installed on the Quai des Comtes-de-Champagne.

But La Feuille is not just decorative; it is also useful, serving as a balustrade and concealing the staircase used as an emergency exit from the parking garage beneath the forecourt.

At night, colored lighting shows the sculpture in a whole new light. The light changes with the seasons: orange in autumn, blue in winter, green in spring and red in summer.
The installation is completed by safety posts and two benches whose stainless steel backrests reflect the design of the sculpture.

Willem Vandenameele