N E W S L E T T E R N °1 Ecodistricts : in search of a new way of living by Richard Quincerot, town planner
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t has been a long time since town planning has attracted as much attention ! After decades of “modern housing estates” that pushed the public towards old town centres or suburbs of detached houses,
the new ecodistrict has arrived on the scene. Launched 15 years ago in Germany by a handful of activist ecologists, the neologism has swept through Europe like a whirlwind. Today everyone is talking about them, from the fashion newspapers to town planning magazines. Everyone is visiting them : a journey (by train, please!) to the ecodistricts of
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Germany or the Netherlands has become a must for enthusiasts, elected
t was only logical that the SPG Group’s commitment to sustainable development should prompt our SPG Asset Development department to take an interest in the ecodistrict concept.
in France and Switzerland, with each one rising in its own way to the
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It is also worth noting that it is not merely a theoretical or intellectual interest, since we are stakeholders in an exciting and very concrete project for an ecodistrict in Geneva. But what is an ecodistrict ?
representatives and professionals. And everyone is building ecodistricts : for example, in spring 2008, the magazine Durable (Fribourg-Paris) listed no less than 25 projects that had been launched in the past two years challenge of inventing a new way of living that reconciles human activities with the imperative needs of nature.
Once upon a time there was Vauban This great benchmark ecodistrict, which was one of the first to be built, is located in south Germany, in the university city of Freiburg im Breisgau.
Unlike the MINERGIE® label, the content of which is precisely defined in objective, quantitative and “ scientific” terms, the concept of ecodistrict still seems rather vague to the public, apart from its good intentions. Moreover, no protected label currently exists for the word “ecodistrict ”.
In 1992 a 40-hectare site became vacant after having been used by the
We therefore want to answer this question here by giving the motivated enthusiast some references for possible visits in Europe and by establishing certain criteria and principles which, although they do not have absolute normative value, are something with which the developer of an ecodistrict should comply.
Vauban numbers 2,500 housing units covered with lush vegetation, served
I would like to conclude with a practical thought and a wish : In our view it is important that the developer of an ecodistrict should adopt an intelligent and constructive attitude towards the automobile ; promoting “soft” forms of mobility does not amount to disavowing or banning the car. The creation of an ecodistrict has to be an opportunity to plan for enough parking spaces to accommodate absolutely all automobiles underground and thus to leave totally free spaces on the surface. We need to remember that a vehicle parked below ground – and which therefore has its own long-term parking space – is much less likely to be used by its owner than a vehicle parked in a public space, with the usual time restrictions to which it is subject. In other words, it is worth avoiding the mistake of considering that a good ecodistrict should not provide any – or only a few – parking spaces in an attempt to deter cars from entering its boundaries…
military. By putting pressure on the municipal authorities, a small group of squatters, activists and economists obtained permission to convert the wasteland into an ecological district. Fifteen years later the ecodistrict of by almost carless streets where the children play. The town has styled itself as a world capital of solar energy and the environment, the Greens have gained a majority on the town council and a specialized travel agency (Freiburg Futour) guides the hundreds of visitors who flock from all over the world to learn the “Vauban lesson”.
Some very diverse projects Since then the number of ecodistricts has increased, giving rise to some projects that are very diverse in terms of the way in which they have been set up (public or private), their environmental ambitions (modest or high) and their cost (ranging from very expensive to very low cost). One of the most widely publicized is the small experimental complex BedZED near London with its famous chimneys. It has developed some very sophisticated techniques and has succeeded in reducing its ecological footprint by 50 % compared with a standard district. Its 82 dwellings have been built using local resources and recycled materials, their insulation is enhanced, their exposure to sunshine is maximum and rainwater is recovered for use in the toilets. Wood chips (biomass) provide heat and
Thierry Barbier-Mueller Chief Executive Officer of the SPG Group
electricity. The facades are equipped with photovoltaic panels. Cars have to keep out of the district, which is served by electric mini-cars. Jobs and shops are available on the spot. Fresh regional products are delivered by a system of the “Jardin de Cocagne” type, etc.
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