- Impulse
The Paris Media Center
On the occasion of the summer 2024 sports festivities, the Paris City Hall is setting up in the heart of Paris, within the iconic Carreau du Temple, to create a unique venue dedicated to international media documenting the context and behind-the-scenes of this event: The Paris Media Centre.
The concept: bringing to life a space that embodies… a meeting point for Parisians who bring Paris to life every day… through scenography and programming.
A venue capable of hosting 600 people simultaneously, featuring coworking spaces, a dedicated conference area, TV and radio recording studios, as well as dining and relaxation areas, open 7 days a week throughout the entire period to ensure exclusive information access for media from around the world.
HOPSCOTCH EVENT is proud to have been in charge of the artistic direction and organization of this project.
A Scenography
A responsible scenography that plays with contrast, embodied by the craftsmanship of Parisians through an eco-friendly approach, highlighting recycled and eco-designed materials.
The Paris Media Centre unveils itself with an artistic installation in constant motion, bringing the Seine to life, a true link between two Parises: cultural Paris and its counter-culture. It is an inclusive and interactive work, led by: Jeanne Varaldi, visual artist and urban planner.
The artistic work presents fragments of conversations conducted by the artist with Parisians during walks in Paris. A digital terminal allowed for the consultation of the complete narratives and itineraries created, as well as a series of portraits captured by photographer Quentin Chevrier.
The Paris Media Centre is, of course, primarily a living space that promotes new ways of working, from café to office, offering numerous services such as the shop, concierge, café, newsstand, and restaurant. More than 300 workstations have been installed to provide a comfortable experience for the media, with modular wooden partitions, incorporating dividers and acoustic panels.
The Programming
An astonishing program that highlights Parisians, the actors of their city and bearers of Paris’s vision.
Each day, the Paris Media Centre hosted a diverse and varied program:
First, within its modular experiential space where participants could take part in morning sports classes, join local product tasting workshops, creative workshops, special shows, or even afterwork cocktails. Throughout the summer, the space welcomed various local contributors to showcase the artisanal and culinary expertise of the region, thus promoting exchanges and the discovery of the richness of Parisian culture.
Within the auditorium of the Carreau du Temple, the media of the Paris Media Centre could benefit daily from press briefings and news updates, as well as conferences with iconic personalities and key players in Paris’s transformation, such as Pierre Rabadan, Anne Hidalgo, or Mathieu Lehanneur, designer of the Olympic cauldron and torch.
Finally, the media could participate in press tours to discover iconic locations in Paris.
A CSR Commitment
The City of Paris and Hopscotch Event designed the Paris Media Centre with a focus on eco-responsibility and universal accessibility.
All the furniture within the Paris Media Centre was designed and manufactured in collaboration with local Parisian workshops. The wood and other carefully selected materials come from sustainably managed forests.
The signage deployed in the Carreau du Temps is designed to be completely inclusive, making the experience accessible to all visitors, regardless of their needs. Braille panels facilitate navigation for visually impaired individuals, while universal pictograms are used. Induction loops are also available to ensure immediate comprehension of information, regardless of the participants’ profiles. This approach highlights a thoughtful and functional design, allowing everyone to navigate and make use of the space without barriers, in line with the principles of universal accessibility.
In parallel, sustainable gastronomy is celebrated within the Carreau du Temple, promoting short supply chains and local farmers. For two months, journalists were able to enjoy the restaurant that brings together the best community of chefs and artisans in the capital, who have already proven their worth to Parisians, to imagine moments of sharing. The Restaurant supports the local economy by offering fresh, French, seasonal, and environmentally friendly products with vegan and gluten-free options.
