Description

Located in Buchelay in the greater Paris region, the **Open Sky Buchelay Commercial Centre** is a next-generation open-air retail destination developed by Compagnie de Phalsbourg.
With a total area of 40,000 m² and around 50 international brands, the centre offers a pedestrian-friendly shopping experience highly visible from the A13 motorway west of Paris.

Taiyo Europe was commissioned to design and fabricate the lightweight PVC cladding and shopfront canopy that defines the main retail street.
The result is a continuous 12,000 m² canopy running along the façades, providing weather protection while maintaining the open-air character that gives the centre its unique identity.

Working closely with GR Design as architect and MAP3 as engineering partner, the Taiyo Europe team developed a tensile membrane solution following the fluid geometry of the retail promenade.
The PVC panels span between a steel support structure, creating a soft, sculptural roof profile that is both functional and visually distinctive.

Comfort, Visibility & Night-Time Ambience

The canopy enhances visitor comfort through shaded walkways, rain protection at shop entrances, and improved microclimate along the main gallery.
Its translucent membrane allows natural daylight to filter through during the day, while integrated lighting transforms the canopy into a glowing ceiling in the evening.

At night, coloured illumination highlights the rhythmic geometry of the tensile roof, giving the commercial street a striking evening identity.
The white membrane surface amplifies the lighting effects, ensuring the gallery stands out both from the parking areas and the surrounding urban landscape.

Integration with Façades & Landscape

The tensile canopy is carefully coordinated with the glazed shopfronts, signage bands and the landscaped pedestrian route.
Planting, trees and seating areas shape a series of outdoor “rooms,” keeping visitors visually connected to the plazas and water features across the development.

As a prefabricated membrane system, the PVC cladding ensured efficient installation and supported the tight opening schedule of the centre.
The flexibility of the material also allows convenient maintenance or future replacement without compromising the architectural concept.

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