Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence by Zoltán VIRÁNYI-FONTAN

VIA University College 2010 November

Zoltรกn Gรกbor Virรกnyi

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence How to transform an unused industrial area to the new eco-quarter?

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence How to transform an unused industrial area to the new eco-quarter? A bachelor thesis

C Zoltán Gábor Virányi 2010 VIA University College, Horsens, Denmark

Consultant: Roger Howard Taylor Front cover picture by: Nesos C

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Note: This dissertation was compiled as part of an Architectural Technology and Construction Management degree course – no responsibility is taken for any advice, instruction or conclusion given within!

To Marcel, who will grow up in the towns of future

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence

Abstract

Abstract This study analyses the possibilities to redefine an urban district in an ecological way. The basis of the research is a case study of the urban renewal project carried out approximately from 2000 to 2020 to convert the area formed by the confluence of the Rh么ne and Sa么ne rivers in Lyon, France. The dissertation gives an overview of the development of the district in order to see the historical reasons that made the project necessary. The Confluence area played an important role in the industrial development of the city, but became unwanted as it was in the end of the 20th century. It is in a strategic location, therefore the local authority aimed to develop it into the extension of the current city centre forming a valuable area with mixed use. In order to analyse the ecologic aspects of this development, the report attempts to clarify the idea of sustainability. It shows the development of the theories through a chronological review of the important studies, movements, conferences and agreements. Some of the relevant certificates and evaluation tools are introduced to gather practical indicators of urban sustainability. A framework of analysis is established by principles restricted to the ecologic aspects of sustainability. The case is examined through these principles. Finally further suggestions are made in connection with the current renewal project that can be used during future ecologic development of neighbourhoods.

Key words

sustainable, urban, ecologic, redefined function, renewal, case study, development, Lyon, district, Confluence

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence

Problem statement

Problem statement This dissertation was written as part of the final semester of the education as Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management. Sustainability is one of the most exiting subjects of today’s architectural technology, demanding an urgent solution. The different levels of authorities have to cooperate with urban planners, architects, constructors and the inhabitants of cities. As I have the opportunity to complete the final semester of my Bachelor’s education as an exchange student in Lyon, France, I have more insight to the French strategies of ecological urban renewal and a remarkable project, the redefinition of the Confluence district of Lyon. I will examine the opportunities of urban revitalization through this example. I defined three research questions: How did the Confluence develop in the past? 1. 2. What is an ‘eco-district’? 3. How to change the Confluence to be an eco-district? The first part will be a brief introduction to the geography and history of the area. I will show the functional evolution of the quarter through the last 250 years, and examine the conditions that made it possible to completely redefine the role of a district in the centre of a great city in the beginning of the 21st century. I will also explain why it would be unfortunate to ignore those possibilities and leave the area in its industrial character. The next section will define the concept of eco-districts; compare the different national and local strategies. After giving an overview of the evolution of the idea of sustainability, I will introduce some of the most important certifications and their principles along with urban management tools that can be used in such projects. I will concentrate on the French (and especially Lyonnais) approach, but put in perspective of international schemes. The last part will present the possibilities of changing the Confluence to an eco-district, and the way the tools were used and the principles implemented in the project. A comparison of the functional and ecological properties of the district before and after the renewal will be made. I contacted companies and associations involved in the development, design and management of building in the area in order to make interviews with professionals and have direct information of the project. I also gathered online and printed sources – i.e. articles, books, press realises – to have a wide knowledge about the subject from several points of view. The range of this dissertation did not allow me to go deep into subjects such as social or economical sustainability.

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Abstract Key words Problem statement 1. 250 years of the confluence 1.1. Geography 1.2. History and development 1.2.1. Conquest of the land from the water 1.2.2. Infrastructure 1.2.3. Ideas for rehabilitation in the 20th century 2. Eco-district 2.1. Chronology 2.1.1. The 1970s: Inception 2.1.2. The 1980s: Beginning of implementation 2.1.3. The 1990s: Popularization 2.1.4. The 2000s: No other choice 2.2. Initiatives, tools 2.2.1. PETUS 2.2.2. CONCERTO, RENAISSANCE 2.2.3. Haute QualitĂŠ Environnementale 2.2.4. EcoQuartiers 2.2.5. Ecological footprint, One Planet Living 2.3. Principles 2.3.1. Energy 2.3.2. Waste 2.3.3. Transportation 2.3.4. Water 2.3.5. Health 2.3.6. Green areas 2.3.7. Education and public participation 3. The green confluence 3.1. Overview 3.2. Story of the project 3.3. Analysis of ecologic principles 3.3.1. Energy 3.3.2. Waste 3.3.3. Transportation 3.3.4. Water and health 3.3.5. Green areas 3.3.6. Education and participation 3.4. Critics and suggestions 3.4.1. Artificial and natural barriers

4 4 5 9 9 9 9 11 13 16 16 16 17 17 19 20 20 21 22 22 22 23 23 23 24 24 24 25 25 26 26 30 33 33 34 34 35 36 36 37 37 6

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence 3.4.2. The unforeseen future 3.4.3. The prisons 4. Summary of Working Process Bibliography Appendix 1: Interview at HESPUL

Table of Contents 38 39 40 41 44

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence

Table of figures

Table of figures Fig 1. Geographical description of the city of Lyon and its surroundings, 1659 by Simon Maupin (Source: Archives Municipales de Lyon) Fig 2. General plan of the city of Lyon showing the new quarters in 1773 by Louis-MartinRoch Joubert (Source: Archives Municipales de Lyon) Fig 3. General plan of the territories of the Perrache Peninsula with proposal of the railway in 1847 (Source: Archives Municipales de Lyon) Fig 4. The Perrache train station on a postcard from the beginning of the 20th century (Source: Archives Municipales de Lyon) Fig 5. Plan of the Perrache peninsula in 1863 by Langlumé (Source: Archives Municipales de Lyon) Fig 7. The Confluence on a postcard from 1930 (Source: Archives Municipales de Lyon) Fig 8. Aerial view of the Gare Lyon-Perrache in the middle of the middle of the 20th century (Source: Archives Municipales de Lyon) Fig 9. Aerial view of the Gare Lyon-Perrache in our days (Source: Microsoft Corporation) Fig 10. A plan from the project of Claudius Condemine that won the 4th price of the competition of SEL in 1925 (Source: Archives Municipales de Lyon) Fig 11. An overview from the project of Heuillard that won the 3rd price of the SEL competition in 1927 (Source: Archives Municipales de Lyon) Fig 12. An overview of the project as it will look like after finishing (Source: Herzog & de Meuron ) Fig 13. Promenade on the bank of the Saône (Source: Depaule/PAD/Asylum) Fig 14. Detailed masterplan showing each site of the project (Source: SPLA Lyon Confluence) Fig 15. Phases of the project (Source: SPLA Lyon Confluence) Fig 16. Perspective over the Place Nautique (Source: Depaule/PAD/Asylum) Fig 17. View on the three blocks - A, B and C - that form subject of the CONCERTO project (Source: Depaule/PAD/Asylum) Fig 18. Plan of the trafic in the area (Source: SPLA Lyon Confluence) Fig 19. The Place Nautique (Source: SPLA Lyon Confluence) Fig 20. Le Champ (Source: Herzog & de Meuron ) Fig 21. Proposal for the new sections of motorways and modification of the existing parts from 2009 (Source: Agence d’urbanisme pour le développement de l’agglomération lyonnaise) Fig 22. Aerial view of the Prisons Saint-Paul and Saint-Joseph (Source: Microsoft Corporation)

9 10 11 12 13 13 13 14 15 26 27 28 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 39

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250 years of the confluence

1. 250 years of the confluence

1.1. Geography

Grand-Lyon is a conurbation of 1.4 million inhabitants, the second largest in France and is located close to the Swiss and Italian borders. At the heart of Lyon is the peninsula, the Presqu’île formed by the Rhône and Saône, Lyon’s two rivers. Lyon-Confluence is the name of the southern part of this peninsula.

1.2. History and development

The current is not the first great project of the history of the area, on the contrary: its whole development is characterised by pioneering ideas and grand works. It is rare to find such a great territory available in the centre of a so densely populated metropolis. The keys for this opportunity can be found in the past, when the development of the area had paradox results: the strategic location accessible from two rivers, by train on France’s first railway line and later on modern motorway resulted as much in economic progress as in ignoring the district in the second half of the 20th century. To understand this duality and to learn from the often experimental urban improvement projects of the past it is necessary to have an overview of the history of the district. 1.2.1. Conquest of the land from the water

Fig 1. Geographical description of the city of Lyon and its surroundings, 1659 by Simon Maupin Today’s Conflence area does not exist, part of the Mogniat Island is visible

250 years ago the land, where today’s confluence lays did not exist yet. The two unregulated rivers met approximately where present day’s Perrache Station is, forming the uninhabited Mogniat Island and some smaller isles. It was Michel-Antoine Perrache - a sculptor and engineer, member of the Lyon Academy, who the district was later named after - who planned the expansion of the peninsula and the city to the south using some elements of the plans of Jean-Antoine Morand. He enjoyed the support of JacquesGermain Soufflot, the Kings Architect and the soon Controller of Buildings and Improvements in Lyon (from 1773), when he presented his project to the local leaders in 1769. 9

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He drew the confluence back to La Mulati猫re by filling in the Rh么ne by building an embankment and a highway, banked up the land that formed the previous river-bed, and built a dock, a longitudinal canal that linked it to the rivers and a new bridge (Morand Bridge, finished in 1775). Although the most impressive idea of these plans are the establishment of the end of the peninsula, even Perrache leaves the southern part out of some of his drawings, while the residential area north of the Cours Bertin is very well defined. The importance of the project to the city lays in the regulation of the rivers, especially straightening the Rh么ne that gained increased importance for the identity of Lyon. It introduced the concept of urban planning and the use of private finance to fund real-estate ventures. The works began in 1772 under the supervision of Soufflot.

Fig 2.

Perrache dies in 1779, his company bankrupted, leaving the project uncompleted. Although it did not bring the expected financial success, it had a special role in the development of the city of Lyon, and it is the reason to make Perrache remembered, the new district wearing his name. The development was reanimated in the beginning of the next century, when Napoleon plans an imperial palace in Lyon, placed by some schemes on the southern part of the peninsula. It was an excellent opportunity to ensure the funding of the re-banking and diking of the Sa么ne, but the collapse of the empire in 1814-15 caused to stop the works once again.

General plan of the city of Lyon showing the new quarters in 1773 by Louis-Martin-Roch Joubert The plan shows the regulated rivers, and the filled banks with the docks and the channel

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence

250 years of the confluence

1.2.2. Infrastructure

In 1826 a project is accepted by mayor Marquis Jean de Lacroix-Laval to sell parcels of land of the south end of the confluence by public auction. Special conditions were imposed on the future owners: banking of the public highways, priority given to the establishment of industrial activities. The programme is translated to several European languages: an attempt to diversify the range of activities in the Lyon factories by drawing new industries to the site. Arrival of railway to the tip of the peninsula, the accessibility of the multi-modal transport services to the site, the proximity of combustible fuels and raw materials, the near completion of the banking of the “new district” and commitment from the Mayor’s office to continue the re-banking of the southern part. In 1827 in exchange for the lands around the future dock the Seguin Brothers & Co. undertook to bank up the roads and to create 14 industrial establishments, prolong the railway on the peninsula and build a new bridge at La Mulatière that could sustain rail traffic.

In 1832 the railway arrived on the end of the peninsula, the banking was completed in 1840. The railway road connected the whole Loire coal fields to the Rhône and thereby reducing the cost of raw materials. Moreover, it was largely responsible for structuring a new economic district, which was reinforced by the partial relocations of the Lyon factories in the outer district of the city, also at the beginning of the 19th century.

Fig 3. General plan of the territories of the Perrache Peninsula with proposal of the railway in 1847

The activities of the district developed principally around the considerable increase in coalbearing rail traffic, the Seguin brothers’ construction yards (the main French company to build locomotives), as well as the new and important industries such as a chemical plant, the numerous coal depots, and the commercially successful and powerful steamship companies. In 1842 the Legrand law established a radial structure of the new national railway network centred on the capital, with a major artery passing through Lyon from Paris to the 11

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Mediterranean. Although the great steamship companies and the outer districts opposed to build a station on the peninsula, the new central station was placed there. Fig 4. The Perrache train station on a postcard from the beginning of the 20th century

In 1857 the Perrache station was opened to the public, controlled by the Paris-LyonMéditerranée group (before this the Paris-Lyon and the Lyon-Marseille line was managed by two different companies). It was built across the peninsula on a raised landfill, creating an east-west boundary, dividing the peninsula in two and placing the south end “on the wrong side of the tracks”. Local people often use the expression “derrière les voûtes” (“behind the vaults”) referring to the dark, vaulted tunnels that connect the southern area to the city centre under the station. The Gare Lyon-Perrache functioned as the main station of the city for 125 years; it’s northern side (Cours de Verdun) becoming a centre of social life with many bars, restaurants, circus, fairs and tramway, the south left to be an industrial transportation central. After the completion of the station the erection of the city’s two prisons - Saint-Paul and Saint-Joseph – was decided, they were also placed to the area.

Fig 5. Plan of the Perrache peninsula in 1863 by Langlumé The docks are partially filled and the railway runs where it is today

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence

250 years of the confluence

The docks had filled in steps: partly in 1857, when the Perrache Station was built, totally in 1926. Fig 7. The Confluence on a postcard from 1930 The area has an industrial character, in the foreground the two bridges leading to La Mulatière can be seen

The rest of the large logistic infrastructures had been built in the 20th century: in 1926 the Port Rambaud – a commercial harbour, in 1928 Perrache II – a goods station, in 1961 a wholesale market – once the biggest of France, and in 1978 a post sorting centre. The further separation of the district was the result of the national motorway programme decided in 1955. The Paris-Lyon and Lyon-Marseille stages were built between 1961 and 1970. At the same time, the city suffered by traffic-flow problems through the CroixRousse tunnel. The solution was decided to be a new tunnel under Fourvière, connecting the two motorways next to the Perrache station and making Lyon the second city of the world that would have a motorway without a single red-light flowing through its middle. The connection of the roads took place in the ‘Perrache-Lyon Transit Complex’, an ‘urbanbridge-station’ built between 1972 and 1976 and had its exemplar in Seoul. The highway continued south from the complex along the right bank of the Rhône, to the tip of the peninsula, cutting the district from the river. (Godde & Brihaye, 2000)

Fig 8 and 9. Aerial views of the Gare Lyon-Perrache in the middle of the middle of the 20th century and in our days The ‘Perrache-Lyon Transit Complex’ has been built next to the train station to connect the motorways

1.2.3. Ideas for rehabilitation in the 20th century

In the first decades of the 20th century Lyon was the field of pioneering urban-planning ideas of Tony Garnier, supported by Édouard Herriot, the mayor of Lyon from 1905 to 1957 (except 1942-45) and three-times prime minister of France. In spite of many plans considering the Confluence from several architects and urban-designers, the ideas of a modern city were only implemented in other districts of Lyon such as Gerland or Les ÉtatsUnis. Garnier was the Chief Architect of the International Exhibition of City Planning in 13

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1914. He had two projects for the Confluence: a war memorial in 1920 and a cinema in 1924. Both of them stayed hypothetical. Herriot created a Municipal Commission for the Study of the Plan to Extend and Improve the City of Lyon that came up with plans to use the area but none of them has been realised. Four annual competitions were announced by the Société d’Embellissement de Lyon (SEL – Society for the Improvement of Lyon) between 1924 and 1927, in order to examine the relation between the traditional and the modern city. Very interesting proposals were made for the new layout of the city expanded on both sides of the Rhône, suggesting rehabilitation of the special location at the Confluence.

Fig 10. A plan from the project of Claudius Condemine that won the 4th price of the competition of SEL in 1925 The plan gives a special role of the modified rivers and the rearranged Confluence

The only materialised innovation from this time over the port and the new goods station was the Pasteur Bridge finished in 1922 connection the district to Gerland. The debate on the role of the Confluence was reopened by the Compagnie nationale du Rhône (CNR – National Rhône Company) in 1979. It announced a competition for the redevelopment of the Rhône from Lyon to the sea. 22 teams of an architect, a landscape 14

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designer and a sculptor accepted the challenge to design a centre-piece for the confluence which is visible from the motorway, when arriving to the city from the south forming a recognisable icon of the city. Alain Dufau’s project received first price, but it was never carried out. 1983-84 René Gagés, architect of the Transit centre, proposed a project “The Lyon Confluence, an International Metropolis”, stressing the intercultural values of Lyon and suggesting ways to redefine the Confluence. Some years later, in 1987 the American organisation “Partners for Livable Communities” from Washington were looking for European cities in search for material for new ideas. They established a cooperation, “Partners-Europe”, ten American and European experts working together on proposals for urban renewal, experiences that can also be used in the United States. (Lyon Confluence, 1998) None of the latest projects were called by the local government, maybe this is the reason for them to remain on paper. Finally in April 1997 Greater Lyon Community Council invited agencies to develop “Perrache-Confluence” to be the new city centre. After planning, designing and consulting with the inhabitants of the city, the construction of the Phase 1 is close to its finish, the Phase 2 starting next year, completely redefining the district for 2020 with the longer-term works including improvement of the public transport. It ought to be the new exemplary eco-quarter of the city, realising the biggest urban development project in France, one of the biggest in Europe to form a district of different functions such as service activities, residential complexes, leisure zone, shops, public services and facilities.

Fig 11. An overview from the project of Heuillard that won the 3rd price of the SEL competition in 1927 The Conflence was seen as a new city centre with public functions and housing

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence

Eco-district

2. Eco-district There is no clear definition of eco-district, but most of the users of the term agree on ecological sustainability as the key feature. This expression is vague as well, and permanently changing with the development of scientific, political and social evolution. Therefore to have a clear understanding of the subject, I will examine the chronological progression of the terms of sustainability and the practice of developing eco-districts along with national and European initiatives. This will show the most important principles and make it possible to examine the qualities of an urban area that defines its impact on the environment.

2.1. Chronology 2.1.1. The 1970s: Inception

Sustainability started to become an important and global issue in the beginning of the 1970s. Some of the most essential milestones were born in 1972. Scientists and political actors started to consider development not only an opportunity but a danger. Growth of population and technical evolution was faster than ever in the history of human; every statistic showed exponential increase. The Club of Rome commissioned the famous report ‘The Limits to Growth’ that studies how this extreme growth interacts with the finite resources. Five variables were examined, on the assumptions that exponential growth accurately described their patterns of increase, and that the ability of technology to increase the availability of resources grows only linearly. These variables are: world population, industrialization, pollution, food production and resource depletion. (Meadows et al., 1972) The United Nations’ first major conference on global environmental issues was held in Stockholm with the attendance of 113 countries’ representatives. It is widely considered as the beginning of modern political and public awareness of global environmental problems. (Baylis et al., 2008) The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) introduces the ‘polluter pays principle’, which later became known as ‘extended producer responsibility’ and is a method to shift the responsibility for the environmental impact of products through the product life-cycle from the governments to the producers and importers, motivating them to change their polluting practices. (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Environment Directorate, 2006) The 1970s energy crisis (including the two largest in 1973 and 1979) showed the economic dangers of dependence on fossil fuels. They generated researches on renewable energy sources. (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2010)

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Eco-district

2.1.2. The 1980s: Beginning of implementation

In the next decade the environmental movements were still considered alternative, but their ideas began to be supported by local and national political actors and put into practice. Eco-villages, providing ecologic living in rural areas, became more known and in some countries – such as Germany, the Netherlands or Austria in Europe - their experiences were used to form eco-quarters or to rehabilitate existing neighbourhoods in cities with environmental considerations. (Souami, 2009) One of the examples is the urban renewal in the Kreutzberg district of Berlin in 1987 with the aim of improving the quality of living and environmental awareness. The results were decreased energy and water usage, an upgraded waste collection system and increased green areas, partly with green roofs. It is considered as a successful project also because of its integrated concept for all environmental media, involving and educating the inhabitants as well as considering social and economical aspects of sustainability. The Internationale Bauastellung IBA and the Bauastellung Berlin GmbH (both founded in 1979) are only two examples for the institutions that made wider discussion and such urban rehabilitation possible in this period. (Reichmann & Schuchardt, 2001) The term ‘sustainable development’ was first used as a central subject by a report issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. (IUCN, UNEP, WWF and UNESCO, 1980) Seven years later the so-called Brundtland Report, ‘Our Common Future’ gave the most often quoted definition of sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. The importance of this report can be found in having a holistic view on sustainability; discussing environment and development as one single issue. The publication laid the groundwork for the so-called Rio Declaration. (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987) 2.1.3. The 1990s: Popularization

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Rio Declaration, produced on the summit, contains 27 principles defining peoples’ rights to development, and their responsibilities to safeguard the common environment. Some of the most important points clarify the role of human in the global changes, the need of state cooperation and public participation, open economic system, the environmental effects of warfare and special roles of groups like women, the youth or indigenous people. (UN General Assembly, 1992) The other considerable product of the so-called Earth Summit was the Agenda 21, a blueprint on future development, listing 2500 recommendations including foundation of international institutions, for example the Commission on Sustainable Development. The agenda was adopted by 170 countries. It also underlines the, at this time more and more accepted, idea that governments can only assist in the changes making them possible, but the most important role is on the individuals and personal choices, for example changing consumption patterns. (UN General Assembly, 1992) In 1996 Mathis Wackernagel and William E. Rees published the book ‘Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth’ introducing a calculation method and 17

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measurement tool to compare different lifestyles and their impact on the environment in perspective of the nature’s ability to provide sources for them. It represents the area of biologically productive land and water, a population (or individual, city, country or all of humanity) requires to provide the resources it consumes and to absorb its waste, using prevailing technology. (Wackernagel & Rees, 1996) The French Association pour la Haute Qualité Environnementale (ASSOHQE – Association for High Environmental Quality) was established in 1996 to control the HQE standard. The HQE certification is awarded to buildings with low impact on the outdoor environment and healthy indoor environment. (Association HQE, n.d.) The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997; it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community (called the Annex I countries) for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with the aim of combat global warming. These amount to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012. Under the Treaty, countries must meet their targets primarily through national measures. However, the Kyoto Protocol offers them an additional means of meeting their targets by way of three market-based mechanisms, called emission trading or ‘the carbon market’. Currently (in October 2010) there are 191 states and the European Union have signed and ratified the protocol. The total percentage of Annex I Parties emissions is 63.7%. (UNFCCC secretariat, n.d.) In the nineties the urban ecological movements enjoyed increased popularity, new ones came to existence promoting cooperation between towns or neighbourhoods. One of the most known of those movements is Cittaslow founded in 1999 in Italy. It does not focus on districts of big cities but on small communities, promoting high quality of life lived ‘slow’. The idea behind it that distinguishes it from other ecologic trends is the preference of regeneration and reuse over modernisation or development. While other theories study the different lifestyles’ effect on environment, Slow Cities concentrate on the environment’s effect on the life of the residents. (Cittaslow International, 2009) Amsterdam is known for its bicycle-friendly policies; one of the most innovative townplanning projects of the decade was introduced here, 3 kilometres from its centre, containing special ideas for transportation. The GWL Terrein, which was completed in 1998 on the former site of the municipal water company, is a 6 ha car-free neighbourhood with 50-50% of owner-occupied and publicly subsidized housing. The residents signed a non-obligatory declaration of support of the car-free nature of the area. There are only 110 parking places for the 591 dwellings, all of them are on the boundary of the complex and were distributed by lottery. This forced the residents not only to leave their cars unused but to sell them (the surrounding neighbourhood requires a permit for on-street parking). The solutions they were provided with are extensive bike-storage possibilities and a unique car-sharing system: about 60 people use two rented cars; all of them has their own keys and pays for the usage per hour and per kilometre. The old industrial buildings had been transformed to common spaces, offices and workshops, green areas had been established with less paved surfaces then usual and vegetation used on roofs. Rainwater is used to flush toilets and composting is supported. (Scheurer, 2001)

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2.1.4. The 2000s: No other choice

For the new century – or even from the middle of the 90s – sustainability became the central issue of every urban renewal project in the western world. The stronger national regulations forced the professionals to consider environmental (with social and economic) aspects of building and town planning, while sustainability and ‘green construction’ became buzzwords and could help to sell buildings. Those issues seem to be broadly accepted. While in the previous periods, investors had to choose between ecologic responsibility and profitability, for today successful models are constructed to actually save money on green methods. The spread of environmental-friendly techniques made their prices lower, and the growth of energy-costs turned the attention to long-term returns. One of the most oft-referenced principles of sustainable construction and product design was prepared by the American architect William McDonough and the German chemist Michael Braungart for the Expo 2000 in Hannover thus the name Hannover Principles. The statements support the idea of taking responsibility for the environmental impact of the product (e.g. building, district or city) through its whole life-cycle. (William McDonough Architects, 1992) The thought of taking nature as an example resulted in their 2002 book ‘Cradle to cradle’, giving examples of using clean raw materials, that not only reduces waste during the production and after the life of the product, but provides raw material for another product or ‘food’ for plants. (They often reflect the method as ‘waste equals food”.) (McDonough & Braungart, 2002) (Waste = Food, 2005) In 2002 the World Summit on Sustainable Development was held in Johannesburg, where the so-called Johannesburg Declaration was adopted. It is built on the Brundtland Report and the Rio Declaration with special focus on multilateralism and eroding poverty. (United Nations, 2002) A Plan of Implementation was also accepted. (United Nations, 2002) On this summit the Melbourne Principles were also adopted. They were developed by 40 experts, who met in the Australian city for a charrette. The 10 principles form a flexible guide for decision-makers to reach sustainable solutions for their communities. They support long-term thinking in the town-planning, cooperation with local people as well as other cities and building on the distinctive characteristics of the areas. (UNEP International Environmental Technology Centre, Environment Protection Authority Victoria, 2002) Both of the initiatives for sustainable lifestyles One Planet Living developed by WWF and the Aalborg Commitments were laid down in 2004 and had been followed by many cities worldwide since. The One Planet Living contains 10 principles using the ecological footprint as the key indicator for sustainability, while proposing solutions for making the quality of life better. The framework is adaptable and free to use and the site www. oneplanetvision.net, operated by BioRegional, is filled with real life case studies and useful free tools like the One Planet Action Plan sustainability toolkit for businesses, communities and regions or an ecological footprint calculator for individuals. The principles suggest consuming locally using zero-emission waste, transport, building and water-management. (WWF, 2004) (BioRegional, 2004) The Aalborg Commitments were adopted by delegates to the June 2004 Aalborg+10 Conference and have been signed by hundreds of Local Governments. They support 19

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European Local Governments in their implementation of the Aalborg Charter agreed at the 1994 Aalborg Conference and set 10x5 very clear policy guidelines for local sustainability. They are primarily seeking to reinforce existing Local Agenda 21 processes and to generate the energy to move from agenda to action over the next 10 years. The document was signed by more than 600 European communities committing themselves to implement actions to reach their targets based on their own priorities and the common guidelines. (Aalborg Commitments Secretariat, 2004) In 2007, another Danish town, Copenhagen hosted the 51st International Federation for Housing and Planning (IFHP) world congress on the subject ‘Futures of Cities’ in collaboration with the foundation RealDania and the Ministry of Environment. Mandag Morgen (Monday Morning), a Scandinavian think-tank prepared the ‘Copenhagen Agenda for Sustainable Cities’ by consulting with 50 of the world’s leader thinkers and expert in urban development about the future of our cities. The result is a special issue with (once again) 10 principles that urging the restructure of urban decision-making systems, involving the most-affected, having a multi-disciplinary thinking, and cooperative aspect. (Mandag Morgen, 2007) The most discussed report of its kind, published in 2006 by the economist Sir Nicholas Stern, chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics for the British government, converts one key aspect of sustainability –environment – to another that usually motivates decision-makers more – economy. The Stern Review tries to summarise the economic impacts of global warming and recommends actions to avoid them – as these impacts are negative and very serious. The key numbers show that the world will lose 5 to 20% of its GDP by 2050 unless 1% of it is not invested annually to reduce greenhouse gas emission. The report stresses that the action needed is immediate, in other cases every country will be affected by climate change, but the poorest countries will suffer earliest and most. This is where finally global responsibility, economic growth and ecologic changes are strongly connected, but we do not have to choose between them anymore. (Stern, 2007) (Osborne, 2006)

2.2. Initiatives, tools

After summarizing the history of the idea of sustainability, the goals and themes should be clearer, but as the principles aim to be universal to any city of the world, their statements are too general. Any local (or national) government needs much more practical tools if they want to carry out effective changes. As somebody, who received technical education, I can appreciate the measurable ideas. So even if we know what is the problem of most of today’s urban communities, we need instruments to set target values and evaluate the changes made. 2.2.1. PETUS

The European Union seems to implement the idea of sustainability in the common legislation. Since the above mentioned Brundtland Report, there is an undeniable evolution of the awareness of environmental issues. This although resulted in a huge number of new laws and guidelines framed by the European Sustainable Development Strategy (Council of the European Union, 2006), including the Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment 20

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(European Commission, 2006), that makes it hard to follow even for the really committed town-managements. The Practical Evaluation Tools for Urban Sustainability (PETUS – available at www.petus. eu.com) is a collection of all the relevant European regulations and an impressive number of case studies with several practical tools to help decision makers to orientate in the labyrinth of sustainability. The initiative is supported by the European Commission’s DirectorateGeneral for the Environment Information Centre. The cases, tools and directives are sorted in 6 different categories: energy, water/sewage, waste, transport, green/blue structures, buildings and land use. (Jensen & Elle, 2007) There are four types of tools. The Process Guides contain ideas and examples how to manage such projects; frameworks, environmental assessments, policies, strategies and programmes as well as checklists for procedures. The Calculation Tools help to understand the outcome of different chosen solutions through exact results. They provide life cycle analysis with other environmental calculation methods, economic and social evaluation tools along with system simulation tools. The Assessment Methods offer multi-criteria assessment tools to prioritise between different (economic, ecologic or sustainable) aspects of sustainability, evaluation processes, surveys and public discussions in order to ensure public legitimating of a certain project. The last type is of the Monitoring Tools that consist of indicators, benchmarks and accounting tools for monitoring the implemented changes. (Cremasco, 2007) 2.2.2. CONCERTO, RENAISSANCE

CONCERTO is also an initiative launched and co-founded by the European Commission under the 6th and 7th Framework Programmes (FP). It supports local communities, as clearly defined geographical areas or zones to develop strategies concentrating on energy efficient constructions and renovations (EE), establishment of renewable energy sources (RES) and innovation of these fields, for example on the issue of efficient energy storage. Throughout the 22 participating CONCERTO projects of 58 communities the focus is primarily on demonstrating the environmental, economic and social benefits of integrating renewable energy sources together with energy efficiency techniques through a sustainable energy-management system operated on a community level. RENAISSANCE stands for Renewable ENergy Acting In SuStainable And Novel Community Enterprises, and it is a project for the consortium of Zaragosa’s Municipality (Spain), Region of Lombardy (Italy) and the Grand Lyon (France) within the CONCERTO programme. This three exemplary developments are motors of innovation in the field of sustainable energy researching and applying innovation, addressing all phases of the building process from planning, building design, construction and life time operation. The project develops and demonstrates the technologies and mechanisms necessary to monitor and evaluate the energy flows and performance of the communities involved and to contribute to a joint programme of work, the Concerto Plus, to establish standards with other CONCERTO communities. CONCERTO projects are expected to produce well monitored field experience of energy supply and demand patterns to be communicated for the benefit of other CONCERTO projects and serve as a basis for future actions. 21

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2.2.3. Haute Qualité Environnementale

High Environmental Quality (HQE) is a green building standard from France controlled by the Paris based Association pour la Haute Qualité Environnementale (ASSOHQE). The certificate is given to buildings that considered sustainable based on 14 environmental quality targets. The first group of goals are related with the impact on the external environment. The construction is considered ecologic if it has a harmonious relationship between the building and its immediate environment, if an integrated choice of building products and materials had been made and if the site works had a low nuisance-level. During the usage of the building the ecologic management of energy, water, activity-derived waste, cleaning and maintenance has to be possible. On the other side, the house has to provide a high quality of indoor environment. This means hygrometric, acoustic, visual and olfactory comfort, together with a healthy atmosphere that has a satisfying level of sanitary conditions of spaces as well as air and water quality. There is ongoing discussion about the fifteenth target, biodiversity. The certification helps to evaluate the quality of building projects, while motivating designers and constructors for environmental concerns, while providing guidelines to planners of project to follow the example of awarded buildings. (Bidou, 2006) 2.2.4. EcoQuartiers

The competitions EcoQuartiers and EcoVilles were introduced by the French Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea. Projects were called in different categories; districts with less than 500, less than 2000 and more than 2000 inhabitants that show examples for sustainable development based on the ecologic, economic and social pillars. Guidelines contained committed local governments, diverse but cohesive society, promotion of mixed functions, optimal and pertinent funding of projects with avoiding risks, ecologic transportation, HQE and guarding biodiversity. The national Grand Prix went to Grenoble, and 18 other awards were announced in different categories: waste, biodiversity and nature in the city, mobility, energetic sobriety, density and urban forms and ecologic construction. Special prices were given to nine further candidates for future plans, small towns and rural projects. (Ministère de l’Écologie, de l’Energie, du Développement durable et de la Mer, 2010) 2.2.5. Ecological footprint, One Planet Living

Calculating the ecological footprint of an individual, a district, city or a nation is another good way to turn ideas and universal principles to numbers, that can be monitored and draw consequences from. The method measures how much land and water is needed to produce the resources we consume, and to absorb the wastes we produce. The Earth has about 12 billion hectares of bio-productive land – that’s about 2 hectares for every man, woman and child on Earth. However, the amount of bio-productive land needed to produce what is consumed by an average American citizen every year is about 10 hectares. In other words, if everyone in the world had the same lifestyle as an average 22

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American, the world’s population would need 5 planets-worth of bio-productive land in order to feed, clothe and shelter everyone. (Approximately 3 Earths for the lifestyle of an average European.) A sustainable lifestyle, or ecological footprint, is therefore one where the rate of consumption can be sustained by 2 hectares of bio-productive land. This is the base for the joint effort of WWF and BioRegional, One Planet Living that aims to provide way for us live in our only planet Earth. Their 10 principles are zero carbon, zero waste, sustainable transport, sustainable materials, local and sustainable food, sustainable water, land use and wildlife, culture and heritage, equity and local economy, health and happiness. The One Planet initiative consists of a range of practical projects and partnerships that demonstrate how we can live within our fair share of the earth’s resources. They established a network of neighbourhoods with healthy, high quality lifestyles that still use a fair share of resources. On their several websites (wwf.panda.org, www.bioregional. com, www.oneplanetcommunities.org, www.footprintnetwork.org) tools, calculators and promotion of sustainable lifestyle can be found.

2.3. Principles

Based on the historical and practical understanding of the sustainable urban planning methods, we can set up our own principles to conclude the studied aspects of developing a district to be an eco-quarter. The principles have to result in practical ideas, concentrating on the level of a district. Local actions have to be found that have both local and global effects. As it has been shown above, the most important issues are the following. 2.3.1. Energy

This is a two-sided question consisting of the reduction of energy usage and the production of needed energy. The amount of used energy has to be lowered without a negative effect on the quality of life; that means increased efficiency. A large part of the energy efficiency depends on the designers of the buildings, as this sector uses the biggest part of energy. The resources used to keep the buildings warm or cool can be reduced by insulating the walls and roofs – the building-envelope – well or to use passive solar methods by placing shades and windows considering the position of the sun. Energy-saving lighting can also help a lot. An incredible amount of energy is used to carry out the rebuilding or renewal of a whole quarter, so the technology of construction has to be well analysed. Although most of the consumed energy is produced today in power plants for whole regions, a quarter cannot have a considerable impact on the energy-producing practice of the nation or the region; therefore the district should be self-supplied with renewable energy. Geothermal energy, wind and wave power are dependent on geographical conditions, and can play significant role in the energy supply of a department, but hard to utilise in urban environment. Biomass and different techniques of solar energy (solar heating or photovoltaic) can be used easily in cities. Solar cells can be used from the level of one family house. 2.3.2. Waste

Each step of the waste management process needs to be considered including collection, transportation, separation, processing and recovery or disposal. Even before this, the first 23

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stage is to reduce generation of waste; it should be started at the design of products. A leadership of a district has not much impact on this, but can use the power of choice in the object used by the public. Next step is reuse of objects when possible for the original or different, creative purposes. When reuse is not possible, through recycling, value can be still recovered from the materials. To enable this, the infrastructure of selective waste collection has to be provided. Only if none of the above offer an appropriate solution should waste be incinerated without energy recovery, or disposed of to landfill. This should be managed very carefully to minimise the impact on the surrounding environment in a socially and economically acceptable way. 2.3.3. Transportation

From the 1960s 5 km/day/person the mobility in France increased to 45 km/day/person for the 1990s. (Viard & Rollin, 2006) Although some see this as the reason for private car use, but more than 30% of trips made in cars in Europe cover distances of less than 3 km and 50% are less than 5 km (see the campaign of the city of Malmö: ‘No ridiculous car trips’). A management of a district should focus on these short distance journeys, and provide alternatives. Public transport network has to be reliable and answering the real needs of its users. It has to provide good connection between the different modes of transport. Car-usage has to be reduced to the occasions, when it is really needed, cycling has to be promoted and enabled by a good and safe bike lane system. Proven car- and bicycle sharing methods are also available. 2.3.4. Water

Water sector has the multiple role of providing water supply for the community, safe transport of waste water and storm water, treating the wastewater to a hygienic and environmental acceptable standard while preserving the aquatic ecosystems. The usage of water-efficient toilets, washing machines, taps etc. is the shared responsibility of the users and the designers, while a lot depends on the individuals’ life-styles: how long showers do you take, how often do you wash your car, or how do you water your plants. Collection of rain-water or grey water recycling are also ways to use less of other resources and can be participating in the decentralisation of water-service. Understanding and restoration of natural water-cycles are also necessary. 2.3.5. Health

A healthy quarter has to provide the basic environmental conditions - air, soil, water, purified water, etc. is in order and under control. The healthy city has minimized traffic and recreational accidents, and provides easy access and opportunities for physical activity, also for the disabled. Reducing pollution and providing healthy indoor environment is as important as promoting healthy lifestyles. Local and natural food can be (but not necessarily is) a source of health and happiness, which are two of the most important measures of quality of life for most of the people.

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2.3.6. Green areas

Planted areas are often referred as the lungs of cities. They play an important role in the health of the inhabitants; not just because of their capacity of cleaning air, hold water, cool the city in summer and support biodiversity, but also for often providing space for sport and other healthy activities. Parks and gardens, green roofs and walls (sometimes called vertical gardens), green streets and corridors, urban nature, sports and play spaces and surplus land are considered as green areas. In many cases blue areas, the surfaces of water are managed together with green areas, as they are also natural spots increasing biodiversity, cooling the city and can help to protect human health. 2.3.7. Education and public participation

As we saw, the efficiency of many of the above mentioned solutions highly depends on personal choices. It is really important that the residents understand and use the provided infrastructures and their working methods. Their cooperation with each other and the management of the district is needed in order to become truly sustainable. They have to be involved in the early stage of planning and design, as well as constantly consulted with as they are the users of the final product; they are the main reason for the project. Only public agreement can legitimate such great projects, and it cannot exist without education and promotion. Advertising ecologic project also increases public awareness and demand for further environmental solutions.

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3. The green confluence

3.1. Overview

Today the biggest urban development project – one of the biggest in Europe – is being carried out in the Confluence of the Rhône and the Saône. The city centre of Lyon will be doubled aiming exemplary high quality in terms of urban planning, architecture, landscaping and environmental impact, using 150 hectares of industrial area. The Perrache district is consist of an active working-class neighbourhood, called Sainte-Blandine, industrial territories of the previous Port Rambaud and the so-called Market area that was France’s biggest wholesale market once.

Fig 12. An overview of the project as it will look like after finishing

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The quarter will have very diverse functions. The new heart of the district will be the Place Nautique, where the water will flow in the land reminding the historical but filled docks. Today there are 7000 people lives in the area; this number is expected to grow to 10500 for the end of the first phase of the project and to 17000 with the second phase. There will be wide range of housing; the three central blocks of new buildings will contain 44% luxury homes, 33% standard and mid-price rental and 23% social housing. New offices will be built, increasing the number of 7000 jobs to 14000 then 27000 for the end of the second stage. Local parks – i.e. Berges de Saône riverside park –, new squares – including the Place des Archives at the renovated and expanded building of the Municipal Archives – and sport facilities will be created. The buildings of the harbour will be renovated and will give place for cultural activities, to the very tip of the peninsula the Coop Himmelb(l)au designed the Musée des Confluences, a new 25000 m2 museum with emblematic shape, devoted to sciences and society. Cultural improvements also include the renovation and expansion of the Municipal Archives, establishment of schools, new university buildings, youth community and cultural centres. The new Headquarters of the Rhône-Alpes Regional Council will also be established here, near by the Place Nautique. The retail and leisure zone will house recreational activities, cinemas and shopping centres. Phase 2 will take place on the east side of the Confluence next to the Rhône (but divided from it by a motorway). Many of the existing market buildings will be kept and renovated, to give the area a distinct look and identity and to provide affordable rental spaces for workshops and other small businesses. This new area – the Market quarter – is planned as a mix of homes, shops and offices in a network of streets and courtyards. Between this territory and the museum at the end of the land, a green area, called Le Champ (The Field) will be created segmented by small streams, covered by grass and plants recalling the original marshlands, and expected to support biodiversity.

Fig 13. Promenade on the bank of the Saône

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Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence Fig 14. (on the previous page) Detailed masterplan showing each site of the project

Place des Archives 1. Place des Archives pedestrian public space – 6 500 m² 2. Carpark at the Archives public underground car park : 632 spaces / 8 levels 3. «Time Square», offices and shops on the ground floor – 3 600 m² 4. «Espace Confluence», offices and shops on the ground floor – 3 580 m²

Perrache – Sainte -Blandine 5. Regional Headquarters of SNCF offices 6. 17–18–19 quai Perrache undefined 7. «Patio Presqu’île », angle Bayard/Delandine 110 “standard”first time buy homes 8. CRCI, quai Perrache offices

Bayard 9. Pôle Sud offices – 1 300 m² 10. 26 rue Seguin 93 homes (unrestricted rental) – 8 200 m² 11. Sonny Anderson football pitch and club house sport facilities 12. «Au fil de l’eau», Block E1 57 dwelling units (31 social rental, 26 social first-time buy) – 4 800 m² 13. Block E2 Head Office of Banque de France – 6 400 m² 14. «Amplia» Block E3 66 dwelling units (51 unrestricted and 15 “intermediate” first-time buy) – 5 600 m²

15. «Le logis vert », Block E4 77 homes (43 unrestricted and 11 “intermediate” first time buy, 23 social rental) and shops on the ground floor – 7 000 m² 16. Poste RTE (extension) extension of existing electrical substation 17. Block F1 66 dwelling units (33 social first-time buy, 33 social rental) and shops on the ground floor – 5 200 m² 18. Périer School, Block F2 Nine-class school with footbridge between elementary and primary sections – 4 700 m² 19. Athletic field sport facilities 20. Voiries Bayard – Bichat – Denuzière – Road C roads and public spaces – 22 500 m² 21. Parc de Saône Green surface of 14 hectares total area, comprising : Saône-side walkway, three water gardens, neighbourhood gardens, garden at centre of block, and landscaped treets and small squares

Place nautique 22. «Saône Park», Block A 220 homes (incl. 19 for social rental) and shops on ground floor – 19 500 m² 23. «Lyon Islands », Block B 292 housing units (229 unrestricted and 32 social first time buy, 32 highsupport social rental) and shops on ground floor – 30 800 m² 24. «Le Monolithe», Block C 152 homes (44 unrestricted first time buy, 28 “intermediate” rental, 80 high support social rental), offices (14300 m²) and shops on the ground floor – 28 200 m² 25. MJC et capitainerie Youth and Culture centre (Lyon Perrache) and port captain’s office for Place Nautique, 1300 m² total net floor area 26. Place nautique Four-hectare public marina

The green confluence 27. Fixed footbridge of the place nautique 62 m-long, 80-tonne footbridge 28. Mobile footbridge of the place nautique footbridge with reduced mobility access 29. Leisure and commercial centre 63000 m² total net floor area incl. 25000 m² (leisure and cinema complex), 19900 m² (shops) and 7000 m² (restaurants and services) + 3-star hotel (7700 m²) – 70 700 m² 30. Hôtel de Région Headquarters of Rhône-Alpes Regional Council – offices – 44000 m²

42. Pavillon «Z» (PZ) undefined – 1000 m² 43. Public Places of Port Rambaud public space – 3,8 hectares 44. Musée des Confluences Museum devoted to sciences and society – 25000 m²

Marché / Phase 2 45. Central square public space – 7000 m²

31. Roads Perier -Montrochet roads and public spaces – 24000 m²

Port Rambaud 32. Le Progrès + TLM offices – 11 300 m² 33. Eiffage Head Office of construction group Eiffage – 15600 m² 34. Pavillon de « l’ancienne capitainerie » (P1) undefined 35. Pavillon «des Radios » (P2) offices – 4000 m² 36. Pavillon des Salins (P3) Refurbishment (Le Bec restaurant and food mall) and extension (Groupe Cardinal offices) – 6 300 m² 37. Pavillon des Douanes: « 45 quai Rambaud» (P4) Refurbishment to create offices ands art galleries on ground floor, and a restaurant – 4 700 m² 38. Pavillon «La Sucrière» (P5) Refurbishment to create largeevents venue – 9000 m² 39. Pavillon 6 (P6) hotel – 6 700 m² 40. Pavillon 7 (P7) offices – 6 700 m² 41. Pavillon 8 (P8) offices – 8000 m²

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3.2. Story of the project

The discussion of the renewal project started in 1997 by Grand Lyon’s local government that started an initial consultation about the development of the area. In 1998, the basic plans were made under the title ‘Lyon Confluence: Projet Urbain’ (Lyon Confluence, 1998) Next year a mixed enterprise, the SEM Lyon Confluence (‘société anonyme d’économie mixte locale’) was established to implement it, and the clearing of the area is started. Architect François Grether and landscape designer Michel Desvigne were chosen to draw up the overall plan for the territory. They proposed the realisation of a 340000 m2 project on 41 hectares. In 2003 Grand Lyon accepted and launched the first phase with a legal construction, called ZAC. It is abbreviated from ‘zone d’amenagement concerté’ and is “a zone in which a competent local authority or public body decides to intervene in order to implement infrastructure works, (...) the procedure is used for large projects in which it is necessary to know only the general orientations of the development.” (Wood & Williams, 1992) The work on the tramway was also started this year. Realestate developers and designers were called for tender that, at this time, did not contain the idea of establishing an ecological district. The main guidelines gave only the idea of a new high-tech district, a new city centre with distinctive, modern building designs and public spaces. It was going to be a new Part Dieu – Lyons large business district with high-rise office buildings, a great shopping mall and the central TGV station – but this time for a mixed use, mainly housing. For the initiative of HESPUL, a non-profit association specialised in renewable energy sources and rationalisation of energy-use, Lyon together with Lombardy (Italy) and Zaragoza (Spain) applied to the European Commission’s CONCERTO programme, forming the RENAISSANCE project. In December 2003 a proposal was submitted to the European Commission relating to the first three blocks of housing (called A, B and C blocks – or îlot in French) to be constructed in the area. The objectives set out in this proposal were a maximum energy consumption for heating of 60 kWh/m²/year (40% less than the then French regulation, RT2000), 80% of heat and domestic hot water demand from renewable energy, 50% of electricity demand for communal areas from renewable energy. When, in March 2004, the European Commission evaluated this proposal and ranked it in first position, SEM

Fig 15. Phases of the project

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Lyon-Confluence immediately upgraded its’ guideline for the selection of developers that provided architectural and environmental requirements with the technical details of the proposal. In January 2005 three developers were selected to each build one section of the estate, following the architectural, environmental and energy guidelines provided. Buildings designed by each developer included wood chip fired boilers, solar thermal systems and PV in order to comply with the renewable energy requirements of this guideline. (Gaiddon, 2007) In 2005 the tram was put into service on the Cours Charlemagne, the ‘main street’ of the Confluence. The work of realignment and reduction of the old railway tracks began. Construction of new railway bridges and viaducts made possible the extension of existing routes to the Saône. The works were accompanied by rehabilitation of polluted soil. The site was chosen to give new home for the Headquarters of the Rhône-Alpes Regional Council.

In 2006 the works began on the site of the future Place Nautique, including the digging of the new docks after the prefectural approval of the plans. Works had been carried out on the south of the place, on the site of the Port Rambaud (renamed as Quai Rambaud), on the point of confluence for the museum and on the northern part of the district, at the Municipal Archives. The wholesale market was moved to the outskirts of the city, the project’s public communication centre, Maison de la Confluence was opened, and the first flats were sold.

Fig 16. Perspective over the Place Nautique

In 2007 developers and designers of the Blocks E3 and E4 (on the north of the Blocks B and C) were selected. Following the example and success of the ecologic properties of the first three lots, they were designed to be even more energy efficient, gone beyond the requirements of HQE to achieve a Very High Environmental Quality (THQE) using renewable energy from 35% to 100%. (In Lyon, the HQE limit for renewable energy 31

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is 20%.) The public consultation and planning of the second phase about the ‘Market District’ began in the same year, while some of the designers were also chosen. The next year the SEM Lyon Confluence became a public development company (SPLA). The public discussion of the Phase 2 continued with the exhibition ‘Ma ville demain’ (My city tomorrow) and the invitation of comments of the project. The water from the Saône was let to flow in the docks and the first apartment building was inaugurated on 26 rue Seguin. In 2009 team Herzog & De Meuron was selected to design the urban project of the second phase. In order to decrease the quality differences in the new and old parts of the quarter, a study for eco-friendly renovations Sainte-Blandine district was launched. It will effect 7200 people and 100000 m2 of buildings. The two prisons were moved from their historical buildings to Corbas, south-east of Lyon. Some of the office buildings – for example the striking Pavillon des Salins by the architects Jakob+MacFarlane –, along with the restaurant and market of the two star chef, Nicolas Le Bec in the renovated building of the docks, the first kilometre of the walk along the Saône and the Jardin Aquatic Nord – part of the Park Saône – were opened, attracting people to the area. (Bolitho, 2010) In 2010 the ZAC for the second phase was launched for 35 hectares of land. The Place Nautique is partially, the Blocks A, B and C are completely finished, the car-park at the Place des Archives and the Parc Saône are opened to the public. Grand Lyon signed cooperation with WWF France in order to develop the Confluence district to the first WWF One Planet Living certified neighbourhood of France in the next 5 years. To achieve this, wider view of sustainability is needed then concentrating only on energy efficiency; targets about drastic reduction of greenhouse gases and waste, development of sustainable transportation, protection of cultural and natural heritage are agreed on. In the following years the Leisure and Commercial Centre, the Blocks E and F, all the pavilions along the Saône, the rest of the first phase’s public spaces, the Périer school complex and the MJC youth hall community centre are planned to be delivered. The revision of the local plan in connection of the finished first and starting second phase is scheduled for 2011. Until 2014 the tramway will be extended to Gerland, the quarter on the other side of the Rhône that will be possible to reach also on a footbridge for this time, and the Musée des Confluences will be handed over. (The construction of the latter is halted by technical and financial difficulties, so the date of deliverance is unsure.) The project is planned to be completely finish for 2020, until this date Transverse, a passageway connecting the far ends of the two rivers through the Confluence, will be built, the Market quarter and the Field will be finished and the district will be fully occupied by the thousands of its new inhabitants.

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3.3. Analysis of ecologic principles 3.3.1. Energy

This aspect is the source of the idea of implementing ecological considerations in the Confluence, and this is the one most comprehensively applied. The CONCERTO programme concentrates only on energy issues, so they were taken into account in an early stage of design. The other principles had been considered only with the start of the partnership with WWF on the One Planet Living initiative, therefore they will be applied from the second phase of the project. The central Blocks (‘Îlots’) A, B and C are the first in the district to be designed in High Environmental Quality; they are the subject of the RENAISSANCE project. The three adjacent lots contain 660 apartments, 18000 m2 of office space and shops on the street level (approximately 75000 m2 altogether) shared among 21 new buildings.

Fig 17.

The houses are designed to be energy efficient with the following target values. The residential areas are expected to use less than 60 kWh/m2/year for heating (in opposite to the national average of 110 kWh/m2/year), 25 kWh/m2/year for the domestic hot water supply (instead of 40 kWh/m2/year) and consume 25 kWh/m2/year of electricity (instead of 50 kWh/m2/year). The offices are planned to use a maximum of 40 kWh/m2 for heating, 5 kWh/m2 for hot water, 10 kWh/m2 for air conditioning and 35 kWh/m2 for all the other electric installations every year. This project is the very first one in France on this scale to reduce to this extent the consumption of conventional energy (-77% compared to the current regulations laid down in RT 2000).

View on the three blocks - A, B and C - that form subject of the CONCERTO project

Innovation is more based on technical aspects because a huge metering campaign has been displayed. Altogether, 2800 meters will make able to follow energy flow (meteorological data, real conditions of constructions, energy consumption) and target the maximum of ‘explanative parameters’. The evaluation will enable a better understanding of green 33

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buildings’ behaviour and the users influence from the energetic point of view. The results are planned to be used on following phases and in future projects. The energy generation for heating and domestic hot water is solved through the combination of solar thermal panels (489 m2), on-site wood-fired boilers (with a total a 2,160 kW power) with natural gas back-up. Photovoltaic panels installed on the three blocks of houses generate 89 MWh of electricity every year. The investment costs for these energy supply technologies were covered by the developers whereas their maintenance and operation will be taken over by a special association of co-ownerships (“Association Syndicale Libre”). In particular, this association will benefit from selling electricity, meaning that the owners will have reduced running costs. Fig 18.

3.3.2. Waste

The objective stated in the agreement with WWF is to reduce the ratio of non-recycled, nonrecovered and non-composted waste to 30%. This is going to be achieved by cooperating with the shops, for example in the shopping mall and by providing possibility to separate waste. Specifications of building block will contain proposal for local composting solution. A study is launched on collecting the compost across the district. The Ministry of Ecology recently launched a wide media campaign to convince people to reduce their household litter.

Plan of the trafic in the area Red - Motorway Orange - Main streets of the district Yellow - Secondary streets with limited trafic Green - Pedestrian area, forbidden for motorised vehicles

Further results could be reached by following the example of another One Planet neighbourhood, BedZED that collects and recycles the offices’ paper waste, and runs a swap shop for unused clothes and furniture. Latter can be used for charity, supporting social sustainability and strengthen community. 3.3.3. Transportation

The nearby shops and services are promoted and the short trips are made possible to be taken on foot. Public transport will be developed; the objective is to have a stop in a maximum distance of 500 meters from anywhere in the district. The tramway will be extended and joined to the metro in Gerland through one of the new bridges. Alternative ways of transports, such as water-bus or shared electric vehicles are subjects of a study. The private usage of motorised vehicles causes the biggest problem of fluidity and pollution in cities, attempts will be made to reduce it. This will happen partly through limitation of parking places, the final target is to have 0.6 parking place per dwelling unit and one for every 100 m2 of office space. There are plans to promote Inter-Enterprise Travel Plans, cooperation with the companies moving in the area in order to reduce their unnecessary travels. 34

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Although there are new velo’v stations are to be placed, to make it easier and more effective to use Lyon’s popular bike-hire system, I could not find plans to extend the existing bicycleroad network. Currently there are two longitudinal lines are in the quarter, one on the Cours Charlemagne along the spine of the peninsula and one along the Saône, but they are not connected crosswise. By bike the district is accessible only through the dark and stinking vaults of the Perrache station. On some long-term planning the quay of the Rhône is also a promenade for pedestrians and bicycles, but today it is separated from the district by a busy motorway. I think, the most necessary improvement would be the relocation of this highway. It is responsible for a lot of noise- and greenhouse gas-pollution, and even if it is paradox to say about a road, obstructs the movement, in and around the area. The potentials of the local authorities are very limited, as the operator of the road is the national enterprise of motorways. In their – quite reasonable – opinion it cannot be removed until the western peripheral ring is not built around the city. The time of this is undecided. 3.3.4. Water and health

The requirements of High Environmental Quality certification contain guidelines for water management. They demand a healthy, good quality drinking water and a leakagefree supply system. These are necessary for good health and indoor climate, but do not go further than what any homeowner would expect today. Such a huge and ambitious project would be a perfect field for exemplary innovations, like grey-water reuse or collection of rainwater. Water-saving installations would have a remarkable effect applied in such scale. The area is directly surrounded by the rivers, this should also lead special interest to the alternative use of water. The innovations supporting the healthy environment partly contained in the development of transport, water management and green spaces, partly provided by establishing leisure and sport facilities.

Fig 19. The Place Nautique Inhabitants are encouraged to use the public spaces for healthy activities

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence

The green confluence

3.3.5. Green areas

The Confluence contains approximately 35 hectares of green spaces. Part of the first phase is the Parc de la Saône occupying 3 hectares and containing the Jardin aquatique (Aquatic garden) planted with a flora of over 3000 plants of local species. The biggest green surface of the project will be Le Champ (The Field), a park created in the second phase with small natural flowing waters, expected to attract birds and wildlife. Biodiversity will be constantly monitored, information about the natural heritage provided to the inhabitants and visitors.

Fig 20. Le Champ The Field

3.3.6. Education and participation

There is a considerable attention on the public participation. The opinion of the inhabitants is invited and appreciated since the early stages of design. Next to the websites advertising and explaining the project (www.la-confluence.fr and www.lyon-confluence.fr) there is one dedicated for the public discussion on the renewal (www.laconfluenceonendiscute.fr). The Maison de la Confluence is an office on site created to welcome interest and civil opinion as well as providing information about the plans. There is an informative model of the district, all the press-material is available along with films projected about the project. The sub-contractors, including their on-site craftsmen participated in training sessions about the new techniques and ecologic solutions in order to carry out the work in the expected quality. The residents also received education and handed-out booklets to get information about the urban project as well as to increase their public awareness and knowledge about becoming a ‘green citizen’ of the city. There will be material provided to the operators of the building in order to avoid problems of maintenance of the installation such as boilers or solar panels. Attempts are being made to strengthen the community of the residents to motivate each other for a responsibility towards the environment.

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence

The green confluence

3.4. Critics and suggestions 3.4.1. Artificial and natural barriers

As I see, the principal problem of the area is being strictly closed, an issue that have not been solved in the project. It can be considered as a triangle, with rivers on two sides and the railway with the Gare de Lyon-Perrache station on the third. The barrier of the rail tracks is doubled by the highways meeting in the ‘Perrache-Lyon Transit Complex’. The historical passages under the train station that once represented the connection are lengthened to dark and long tunnels by this complex, forming an almost impermeable obstacle. The more pleasant way to access the quarter from the north is the one what pedestrians chose; to go up, over the tracks and roads. This also underlines the effort has to be made to enter to the Confluence rather than attracting people. The premier goal of the renewal project, to extend the city centre of Lyon, is not reached until these structures form such barriers. Today – and in the last 300 years – the hearth of the city is around Place Bellecour, north from the Perrache district isolated from the Confluence. It seems that the only way to extend it to the south until the end of the peninsula is to demolish the existing motorway junction complex that forms a weight oppressing the city. The enormous scale and the structure of this building – mainly in-situ reinforced concrete – makes this almost impossible or at any rate extremely expensive. If the western peripheral ring of the motorway would be built around the town, leading at least part of the traffic out of the city centre, the complex would lose its important role. Its rehabilitation and the conversion to a different function could form the subject of another great-scale urban project. Until this the management of the city that aims to double the centre should find solution for the access to the Confluence on the ground level therefore attractive alternative usage of the tunnels. If they would have a clearly defined function that fits in the centre of a European city, for example shops, the Bellecour area could be really joined – more than divided – by them to the Confluence.

Fig 21. Proposal for the new sections of motorways and modification of the existing parts from 2009

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence

The green confluence

Until the existing artificial barriers exist, in my opinion, the Lyon will have not one extended but two competing city centre. In some cases, this could be considered as a positive result but here it will just strengthen the proportions of Lyon. The so-called Grand Lyon is a conurbation formed by several different towns that has already many – maybe too many – focal points. There are two historical centres, Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) on the right bank of the Saône and the hill Croix Rousse that close the peninsula on the north. There is a business-centre, Part-Dieu, an educational centre at La Doua and there is Gerland that meant to form the new industrial centre in the plans of Tony Garnier and Édouard Herriot in the first half of the 20th century. The proximity of the rivers is holding more opportunities than challenges. Their limiting function can be taken away by bridges that are giving good chance to architects and engineers to design aesthetic and practical link to other parts of the city. The coast of the Saône will be given to the public as park and promenade. Unfortunately the Peninsulas other banks, those at the Rhône are strictly divided by from the quarter by the motorway. One of the nicest ways to spend a sunny afternoon in Lyon is to go for jogging, biking, having a romantic walk or to watch your children play outdoors. All of these can be done on the left bank of the Rhône, on the quay running along the city, giving home to playgrounds, bike- and jogging-paths, skate park, public swimming pools as well as cafés and restaurants floating on the river. As long as the motorway exists in the city, the other side of the river will be not only geographically the opposite of this promenade. 3.4.2. The unforeseen future

The mentioned issues highlight another possible challenge. The problems of today are rooted in the great innovation projects of yesterday, because of the town planners’ disability to see the long-term changes of urban lifestyles. Attracting industrial activities was a pioneering improvement of the city in the middle of the 19th century, but is problem for the inhabitants today, because factories do not belong to the idea of a city-centre. The building of the Perrache station generated busy social life on its northern side, but stigmatised the Confluence for a long period as an industrial area. In the 1970s, the quality of modern life was symbolised by a car; finally really everybody could own one. In this point of view, it could seem to be a good idea to build a motorway in the middle of a city to guarantee the ‘fluidity’ and mobility for the fast new lifestyles. In my opinion it was a serious mistake of urban planners; 30 years were enough to turn the private car usage to the biggest retardant of free urban mobility and fluidity. The ‘Perrache-Lyon Transit Complex’, the largest innovation of urban development of the seventies in Lyon is the principal obstacle of the ambitions to enlarge the city-centre these days. Today we still cannot predict how the world will look like fifty or hundred years from now. We are not better oracles than in the ancient times of the Delphic Oracle. Today it seems expedient to equip our houses with solar thermal collectors or photovoltaic panels due to the known issues about them. It is highly possible to find better solution in the upcoming decades or to have another good reason to rebuild the district. I believe that during the design and construction of buildings we have to aspire long durability, but have to take the end of the structures into account. We have to make the work of the demolishers easy. The building is calculated in the embodied energy, but the destruction is not often.

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The green confluence

3.4.3. The prisons

Two great buildings were built in the second half of the 19th century in the Perrache quarter to house the Prisons Saint-Paul and Saint-Joseph. They are between the residential Sainte-Blandine district that is currently under renovation and the railways. In 2009 all the prisoners were transferred to the new establishment, located in Corbas, leaving the buildings empty and unused. (Le Figaro, 2010) The future of the blocks is undecided. An association has been founded against the possible demolition of the historical buildings that have high architectural and patrimonial values. They are collecting signatures on their website (sauvonslesprisonsdeperrache.over-blog.org/) for a petition aiming to protect the buildings.

Fig 22. Aerial view of the Prisons Saint-Paul and Saint-Joseph

In my opinion, this can only be reached if a new function is found. The arrangement, structure and history of the buildings limit the possibilities of reuse, but they could be perfect subject for a conversion for cultural or educational use. The two blocks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one of them has a radiant organisation, the other parallel wings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; could successfully house a university or museum. By removing the high walls, public spaces could be set free and used. (After I finished this part, the new function of the prison buildings was announced. Lyons Catholic University will move in.) (Roman, 2010)

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence

Summary of Working Process

4. Summary of Working Process I visited the site several times to have realistic information about the project and to make photos. The Maison de la Confluence is also situated there. It is an information centre where I could consult people, who have direct knowledge about the plans and ongoing or finished works. Models and press materials were also available there. The municipal libraries and archive provided lot of information about the history and development of the area. When I wanted to analyse the renewal project according to sustainability, I faced the lack of clear definition of a sustainable district. I made a research in books and online sources about this subject, and decided to concentrate on the ecologic aspects, and leave out the principles of social and economic sustainability because of the size of this study. I analysed different agreements, reports and regulations in the theme as well as results of relevant international conferences. There are rich online sources about the project operated by the developers, including the SPLA Lyon Confluence. Most of the illustrations are also from there. I also found a lot of information in the media and in articles and reports from partners involved in the project. I sent letters to many of the participating architects, urban planners, developers and researchers; I received answer only from HESPUL, a non-profit organisation that initiated the ecologic development of the area. I interviewed one of their associates, who gave me valuable direct information and honest opinion. This interview can be found in the appendix of my report.

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence

Bibliography

Bibliography Books Ard-Am, O. et al., 2002. Livable Cities - Urban Struggles for livelihood and sustainablity. Bekley, Los Angeles and London: University of California Press. AS.Architecture Studio, 2009. La ville écologique - The ecological city. Translated by N. Hargreaves. Brussels, Belgium: Archives d’Architecture Moderne. Baylis, J., Smith, S. & Owens, P., 2008. The globalization of world politics: an introduction to international relations. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Beatley, T., 2000. Green Urbanism: Learning from European Cities. Washington, DC: Island Press. McDonough, W. & Braungart, M., 2002. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. New York: North Point Press. Souami, T., 2009. Écoquartiers - Secrets de fabrication. Paris, France: Les Carnets de l’Info. Viard, J. & Rollin, U., 2006. Éloge de la mobilité: essai sur le capital temps libre et la valeur travail. Éditions de l’Aube. Wackernagel, M. & Rees, W.E., 1996. Our ecological footprint: reducing human impact on the earth. Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers. Articles Bidou, D., 2006. The HQE approach: Realities and perspectives of building environmental quality. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Vol. 17(Iss. 5), pp.587-92. Buhler, T., 2010. Sustainable mobility in Lyon: should we hang private car drivers? TeMA Trimestrale del Laboratorio Territorio Mobilità e Ambiente, Vol 3(No 1), pp.21-28. Cremasco, V., 2007. Sustainability Tools Dedicated to Urban Infrastructure: The Existing and the Distinctiveness of PETUS. Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 16.(Issue 3.). Godde, Y. & Brihaye, P., 2000. Lyon 2e arrondissement, Confluent - Secteur urbain dit Presqu’île Perrache, puis Derrière les voûtes. [Online] Available at: http://www.

culture.gouv.fr/culture/inventai/itiinv/lyon-confluent/ dossiers/ia69000215.html [Accessed 2010]. Jensen, J.O. & Elle, M., 2007. Exploring the Use of Tools for Urban Sustainability in European Cities. Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 16(Issue 3). Osborne, H., 2006. Stern report: the key points. Guardian. co.uk. Available online at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/ politics/2006/oct/30/economy.uk. Reports Aalborg Commitments Secretariat, 2004. Aalborg+10 Inspiring Futures. [Online] City of Aalborg Available at: http://www.aalborgplus10.dk/media/pdf2004/ finaldraftaalborgcommitments.pdf. Council of Europe, 1993. The European Urban Charter. Strasbourg: Council of Europe, Publishing and Documentation Service. Council of Europe, 2009. Manifesto for a new urbanity: European Urban Charter 2. Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing. Council of the European Union, 2006. Renewed EU Sustainable Developpment Strategy. Brussels: European Council’s General Secretariat. European Commission, 2006. Thematic strategy on the urban environment. Brussels: Commission of the European Communities. IUCN, UNEP, WWF and UNESCO, 1980. ISBN 2-88032-104-2 World conservation strategy: living resource conservation for sustainable development. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Meadows, D.H., Meadows, D.L., Randers, J. & Behrens, W.W., 1972. The Limits to Growth. New York: Universe Books. Scheurer, J., 2001. Urban Ecology, Innovations in Housing Policy and the Future of Cities: Towards Sustainability in Neighbourhood Communities. PhD Thesis. Murdoch: Murdoch University Institute for Sustainability and Technology Policy.

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence Stern, N., 2007. The Economics of Climate Change - The Stern Review. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available online at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives. g o v. u k / + / h t t p : / / w w w. h m - t r e a s u r y. g o v. u k / Independent_Reviews/stern_review_economics_ climate_change/sternreview_index.cfm. U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2010. ISBN 0160833914 Annual Energy Review 2009. Annual Report. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office U.S. Energy Information Administration. Online: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/pdf/aer.pdf. UN General Assembly, 1992. Agenda 21. Rio de Janeiro, 1992. UNCED. UN General Assembly, 1992. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Rio de Janeiro: UNCED. UNEP International Environmental Technology Centre, Environment Protection Authority Victoria, 2002. Melbourne principles for sustainable cities. In International Charrette held in Melbourne on Building Urban Ecosystems. Melbourne, 2002. United Nations Environment Programm, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics. UNFCCC secretariat, n.d. Kyoto Protocol. [Online] Available at: http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/ items/2830.php [Accessed 2010]. United Nations, 2002. Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development. In World Summit on Sustainable Development. Johannesburg, 2002. United Nations, 2002. Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. In World Summit on Sustainable Development. Johannesburg, 2002. William McDonough Architects, 1992. The Hannover Principles - Design for Sustainability: Prepared for EXPO 2000, the World’s Fair, Hannover, Germany. Charlottesville, VA: William McDonough Architects. World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987. ISBN 0-19-282080-1 Our Common Future. Oxford: Oxford University Press United Nations. AKA Brundtland Report.

Bibliography Maison de La Confluence, 2010. La Confluence - Vivre Lyon en cœur. [Online] Available at: http://www.laconfluence.fr/ [Accessed 2010]. Mandag Morgen, 2007. Copenhagen Agenda for Sustainable Cities. [Online] Available at: http://www.realdania. dk/Projekter/Byggeriet/Copenhagen-Agenda.aspx [Accessed 2010]. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Environment Directorate, 2006. Fact Sheet : Extended Producer Responsibility. Paris: OECD. Websites Association HQE, n.d. Association HQE: Présentation générale. [Online] Available at: http://assohqe.org/hqe/ [Accessed 2010]. BioRegional, 2004. One Planet Vision. [Online] BioRegional Available at: http://www.oneplanetvision. org/ [Accessed 2010]. Cittaslow International, 2009. Cittaslow International. [Online] Available at: http://www.cittaslow.org. Dansk Arkitektur Center, 2008. Sustainable Cities. [Online] Available at: http://sustainablecities.dk/ [Accessed 2010]. Ministère de l’Écologie, de l’Energie, du Développement durable et de la Mer, 2010. EcoQuartiers Developpement Durable. [Online] Available at: http:// www.ecoquartiers.developpement-durable.gouv.fr. Reichmann, B. & Schuchardt, M., 2001. SURBAN database on sustainable urban development in Europe. [Online] Available at: http://www.eaue.de/winuwd/79. htm [Accessed 2010]. WWF, 2004. The 10 principles of One Planet Living. [Online] World Wide Fund For Nature Available at: http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_ work/conservation/one_planet_living/about_opl/ principles/. Film Waste = Food. 2005. [Online] Directed by Rob van Hattum. Available Online at: http://www.docsonline. tv/Archives/description.php?doc=229.

Press realises Lyon Confluence, 1998. Lyon confluence 1998-99: projet urbain - Strategy for urban renewal. Lyon: Communauté urbaine de Lyon.

Appendix

Urban Renewal in Lyon Confluence

Appendix 1: Interview at HESPUL

Appendix 1: Interview at HESPUL HESPUL is a non-profit organisation specialised in renewable energy sources and rational use of energy. The initiative of applying ecologic ideas to the conversion project of the Confluence by joining to the European Commission’s CONCERTO programme came from this association. One of the associates, Malorie Clermont answered my questions.

How did this urban project start?

The project started back in the nineties. The aim was to extend the city centre in a procedure called ’zone d’aménagement concerté’. It is related to the participation of inhabitants, to give their point of view about the development of the area. Why did they have to change the area?

The developers faced every kind of problem that this kind of area can have. The quarter is much closed between the railway, the motorway and the rivers. There was heavy industry with a lot of pollution. How the idea of an eco-district came up?

At the beginning they didn’t really know what they want to do with the area. In 2003 they called the architects and real-estate developers for tender to plan the first phase. The main criterion for the tender was high quality of architectural design. They wanted a distinctive place with special structures, and diversity in function, social housing as well as luxury apartments, offices and other buildings. The environmental criteria came after. The European Commission announced the CONCERTO programme about energy objectives. At this time the objective of an eco-district was not named. HESPUL is very involved in European project, so we heard about this proposal and suggested to participate to Grand Lyon. The local authority was really interested, so they adopted it for the first three blocks of the project. The ecologic targets were applied on the on-going project? Did this cause difficulties?

Did you see the buildings? They have very particular design. The plans that were already drawn for the houses, the shapes of the buildings were not really compatible with energy efficiency. The îlot C, the Monolith is very compact, so it was easy to apply the ideas on, but the other two were not. The problem was that the designers and developers were selected already in 2003, but the environmental programme was accepted only in 2005, when the discussion with the European Commission and the negotiation of the budget finished. Than the architects had to modify the plans, because they were not aware of the strict energy objectives; only the HQE criteria in the original specifications and the French energy performance regulation, Réglementation Thermique 2000. With the arrival of the CONCERTO, they modified the plans to fit the new RT 2012.

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Appendix 1: Interview at HESPUL

What were the other objectives and requirements?

For the CONCERTO programme, the involvement of the local authority was very important; they wanted the politicians to be really involved. Another requirement was to integrate energy efficiency and renewables in the energy policy and the monitoring of technology. For the contract, we had to set energy objectives: less consumption than 25 kwh/m2/year, provided by at least in 80% of renewable energy sources. I think they were very ambitious objectives. It was going to be a programme for 5 years, but our project will be extended to 7 years to last until 2012. How did the ecologic ideas expand from these only three blocks?

The CONCERTO project was so successful that the developers of the next buildings in the E and F blocks wanted to go even further, to create zero energy and positive energy buildings. This was the first effect of our project. They are also working on refurbishment of old buildings in the Sainte-Blandine districts. There are two reasons for this: not to have two different areas, a new and an old, and to decrease the high energy consumption of the old houses. The same team, who is working on the RENAISSANCE project, is involved in the renovations. They have chosen some buildings to experiment on the technology and on the interaction with the inhabitants, in order to use the results for the whole confluence and expand it for Grand Lyon. So another effect of the CONCERTO programme is to motivate more efficient construction and renovation through setting example. Later WWF and Lyon signed a contract for cooperation for 4 years. This is extended for the whole district, not only for the mentioned blocks, and follows every principle of WWF’s One Planet Living, not only the issues of energy. I think, transportation in French cities is a major issue. What are the plans for the development of this?

For the end of the project, they want to reach 0,7 parking places per flat. The already built houses have 1 or sometimes 2 places per apartment, because it would be really hard to sell the apartments without parking possibilities. The tramway will be developed, and new stations will be made for the Vélo’v, Lyon’s bicycle rent service. The innovation of transportation is not very well planned yet. The people also have to grow in mind and take those aspects into account. It is very difficult for people to change their habits. The first step was the energy. To realise that we cannot continue our habitual way of life any further. Are the partners concerned about these matters?

We have public partners, like universities or associations, who are easy to agree with on environmental considerations, but there are also private, business-oriented partners, like real-estate developers. It was an ambitious point in the CONCERTO contract to oblige them to respect the energy objectives of the programme. We want also to study within the programme the changes it generates; the changes in the way of developers to select architects, to see new projects or to think about efficient buildings. Who are the different partners participating in the project?

It is coordinated by Grand Lyon, the local authority through its public development company, SPLA Lyon Confluence. The partners include HESPUL; INSA, the National Institute of Applied Sciences that is part of the university that supports the project with 45

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research; ALE, the local energy agency and Enertech, a consultant, who makes studies and simulations on energy efficiency and coordinates the monitoring of the consumption. And we also cooperate with the private real-estate developers. Are the inhabitants involved?

There is a place called Maison de la Confluence, a place for consultation for the inhabitants. They can go there to get information and give their advices about the project. It is very difficult to involve the residents. First, some of the companies do not really know how to achieve this. On the other hand sometimes the professionals do not want public participation. They say “we are professionals, because we know how to do things, we are paid for this, the civilians will follow.” The first objective is to answer the demands of the people, but – they say – people want to travel by car, to consume without thinking about the environmental aspects. The first tenants didn’t come here because of the eco-district; they came, because it is a special area with modern houses, rivers, great view and services. They didn’t know much about High Environmental Quality and solar panels, it was hard to understand. Real-estate agencies, the sellers of the apartments also didn’t speak about energy performance of the buildings, because they knew it was not the interest of their potential clients. Do you think this changed?

Maybe I am pessimistic, but as I heard from agencies, the first priority is still the particular design of the area, then after you can also speak about environmental quality. It is because it is becoming a fashion and it is good for the conscience to think “I do something for the environment by buying this flat”. What is the solution to increase the public awareness?

One of the partners, the energy agency will train the inhabitants to make a good use of the apartments. It is a welcome and orientation booklet written by the developer of the area, SPLA Lyon Confluence. It is focusing on the Blocks ABC, but it will be done for the other houses. It contains information on the history of the area, the public services, on the designers and the CONCERTO programme, but there are also advices on ‘green behaviour’ including ventilation, heating, electricity- and water-usage, on comfort, waste and conscious consumption as well as the idea of an ecologic district, for example about the public spaces or alternative ways of transportation. We also make attempts to form a strong group of residents in order to motivate each other to the conscious use of the houses. It is always difficult to be different, than the group. In Zaragoza, our Spanish partner will combine training sessions and monitoring. Some residents will have monitoring system in their homes in order to observe and change their consumption, they will be able to discuss and compare their results with the others. Here Enertech carries out a very precise monitoring of electric consumption separately for every lamp, television etc and able to compare the results also in time, and use the data in the following developments. In our project is independent of the training programme. Were there technical problems?

Research has been made to find out how well the energy saving features are done. And sometimes not so well. The workers are not very familiar with the new methods. The subcontractors are not always involved in the ecology. They want to decrease their prices, so 46

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they continue their habits and old practices. In the same time, the developers want to sell the houses as environmental. These two levels, to have better buildings, but build in the routine ways, are not compatible. How is it possible to solve this situation?

One of the sustainable aspects of the Confluence project was to follow and observe the development from the design, through the construction to the use of the buildings. The partners worked together with the architects, then we organised training sessions for the on-site workers. It was difficult: people told, they know how to do it, they have a lot of other things to do, and also because of the fluctuation of workers on the construction site from one day to another. Competition between trades are also more usual then cooperation. We also organise education sessions for the inhabitants and for the operators of the buildings. There are the special equipment, like the boilers and solar panels, and their maintainers also have to be trained. Enertech studied the question, and they found out, that even if the installations are set up perfectly for the handing-over, in a few years they can be misadjusted, that results in serious loss of efficiency. This can be solved by education about the new technologies. How do the European programmes about energy issues change?

First they concentrated on single components, one boiler or some photovoltaic panels. Then energy objectives were extended to bigger area, a whole building, than to a district. The next step is to develop Smart Cities. This idea is still under discussion. Could you mention good examples from other countries?

In 2008 we travelled to the Netherlands with partners of the CONCERTO project to visit a PV district in Heerhugowaard, called the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;City of Sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. We also visited an energy centre and a solar city there. In general I could say that our examples are the cities of Northern Europe.