Labelled by UNESCO, Saint-Étienne has made design its trademark. One example of this is Steel, an extraordinary shopping center designed by Apsys in the Pont de l’Ane-Monthieu development zone. To encourage a global approach, Apsys commissioned Studio Briand&Berthereau to design the lattice that will cover the 30,000 m² shopping park. Made entirely of aluminum for its physical properties – weatherproof, infinitely recyclable and aesthetically pleasing – the mantilla covering the shopping park was designed using a simple graphic language. Across 30,000 m², basic modules are assembled on orthogonal grids according to various degrees of density and then fixed to the building. This method allows light density to be varied according to the needs of the building’s zones, and avoids excessive graphic and architectural monotony. More than just a building, this emblematic architectural project symbolizes the renewal and transformation efforts of Saint-Étienne.