Tissage urbain sur la place Bellecour à Lyon

Tissage urbain

2025 | Place Bellecour, Lyon

Place Bellecour: an artistic and urban project driven by its residents

Initiated by its residents, the city of Lyon launched a project to renovate Place Bellecour. The people of Lyon seized the opportunity offered by the participatory budget to express their desire to make greater use of this space. Why not respond to that by incorporating work of art? An installation that embellishes this UNESCO World Heritage Site, while protecting its users from the sun’s rays. This idea was explored by Romain Froquet and architect Tristan Israël, who were entrusted with the design by the City of Lyon.

Tissage urbain, an artistic project rooted in Lyon’s heritage and urban environment

Since early July 2025, the project has been completed, and you can now admire the installation standing in Place Bellecour. With its creative and bold character, it is a decidedly contemporary work. But it also refers to Lyon’s identity and history as a city of silk and the canuts (silk workers). The frames evoke enormous looms, while the aligned strips of fabric represent the act of weaving.

The work is called Tissage urbain (Urban Weaving), a nod to Lyon’s heritage but also an evocation of the network of this vibrant district, with Place Bellecour at its center. Romain Froquet and Tristan Israël did not want to erect an imposing monumental work. They wanted the project to blend into its urban surroundings and take residents’ habits into account. The lines formed by the fabric follow the flow of passersby. Through this project, Romain Froquet reaffirms his artistic approach by continuing his exploration of connections and links.

Local companies involved in the artistic project at Place Bellecour

The local character of the Tissage urbain project is also reflected in the choice of providers and materials. They mostly come from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, including the fabrics, which were produced by the company Serge Ferrari, located near Grenoble. They were selected for their resistance to strong wind gusts, their efficient UV protection, and their ability to allow air to circulate. This makes the installation a piece of work that combines aesthetics, durability, and comfort. Visitors will therefore be able to enjoy the shade of its colorful fabrics for a long time. Beneath the blue-tinted sections, you even benefit from extra coolness thanks to a spray system installed at ground level.

The artwork Tissage urbain will remain in Place Bellecour for five years. However, the installation was designed to last much longer. It can be disassembled and transferred to another location. Meanwhile, whether you live in Lyon or are just visiting, you have every opportunity to admire the artwork and enjoy its benefits.