Conceived as a continuous, inhabited piece of urban furniture, the Serpentine is the result of meticulous work on material, structure, and installation. Métalobil handled its fabrication and installation, in close alignment with the site’s constraints.
The Serpentine is grounded in a deliberately restrained yet expressive material language. Metal structures the entire installation, tracing two continuous lines that wind through the public space. Its fluid, almost reptilian geometry demands a high level of precision in forming, as each element must both fit into an overall continuity and accommodate the site’s variations. The surfaces then incorporate other elements: planting, seating, water, light. A range of materials and uses that engage in dialogue with the structure without ever overloading it.
From the workshop to the street
The Serpentine’s fabrication relied on the progressive refinement of the parts in the workshop, with meticulous work on joints, tolerances, and finishes. Each module was designed to anticipate the constraints of transport, handling, and installation in the city centre. Installation, carried out by Métalobil, took place in sequences in order to maintain use and circulation throughout the works. The installation of the final piece marks the culmination of this process: a precise, measured gesture that fully reveals the Serpentine’s continuous line and its lasting presence in Metz’s urban landscape.
