Case

Dunkirk : a green alternative to suburbanization

Eighty per cent of Dunkirk was destroyed during World War II. After the war, the port has been rebuilt as an isolated place, distinct from the city center. Hit by crisis and deindustrialization, the dockyard winded up closing in 1987, leaving the town with 180 hectares of brownfield. Breathing new life into this derelict industrial site, the Grand Large project aims at transforming this previously isolated zone into an integral and dynamic part of the city.

Launched in 1989, the Neptune Project initiated by the Dunkirk Urban Community was designed to limit suburbanization trend, and to re-orientate the city development towards the inner docks. Situated at only 800 meters from the city hall, between the inner city and the sea, The Grand Large District Project is the second phase of the Neptune Project, and focuses more specifically on sustainable development.

Stephane Chalmeau

Shaping an alternative to peri-urbanization
With a relatively high density, the Grand Large District is meant to become an attractive alternative to peri-urbanization. With their gable architecture reminding of the Flemish style, the buildings are designed to be energy-efficient. In addition to green roofs and solar panels, a heat recovery system coming from the Arcelor steel plant will provide 60 per cent of the energy needed.

A special attention has been given to water management: a water leak detection system prevents waste, along with roof valleys and a park water catchment that enable rainwater collection. The site layout gives priority to pedestrians, while motor traffic is strictly limited to buildings access roads.

Stephane Chalmeau

Social and cultural sustainability
This eco-district is based on principles inspired by Agenda 21, putting into practice the three key elements of sustainable development: environmental, but also social (social mix and mixed-use land) and economic (flexible product use and operational phasing).

Social mixity is reflected in the diverse range of accommodation available: renting or selling, from studio flats to vast apartments. The project will include 40% of public housing and 10% of the offer is intended to first time buyers, while such a quality housing is likely to attract the well-off Malo-les-Bains residents.

Dunkirk Urban Community is also developing a wide range of cultural activities. The Regional Contemporary Art Collections will be re-located in the district by 2013, while the European Center for Leisure and Reception along with a new marina will be inaugurated. New public transportation roads have already been planned to serve this new district. Thanks to these new amenities, the town’s inner basins are breaking with their mono-functionality, revitalizing the district, and reconciling Dunkirk with its waterfront.

Stephane Chalmeau

The cities of Dunkirk and Saint-Pol-sur-Mer were awarded the Global Energy District Climate Award in 2009 in Copenhagen for their district heating network. This expanding recovery system forms the largest French network today.

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Comments

Dan Seng

Nice article. If not for your site and archdaily.com I would be completely in the dark. I visited the development just over a week ago as part of a research project. I was impressed. My blog shares some of the images and information. citypeak.blogspot.com

Tue, 25/10/2011 - 00:08

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Making the Change

Key Learning Points

  • The Grand Large project extends the strategy of the wider Neptune Project, revitalizing the town´s inner docks.
  • A new eco-district creates urban continuity between the city and the waterfront, providing a mixed population with a wide range of cultural and leisure activities.
  • Involving private sector at the design stage of the project, the Grand Large district exemplifies a successful public/private partnership.

Process

1945-1955: Reconstruction of the port, exactly as it was before the war
1968: Creation of the Dunkirk Urban Community
1986: Construction of the heat recovery system
1987: The dockyards close down, creating a 180 hectares of landholding
1988: The Dunkirk-Neptune joint commission is created to renovate the zone
1991: The S3D mixed company is created and gives the go-ahead to the Richard Rogers Masterplan
1993: A marina is set up in the Grand Large basin
1995: The reorganization of the public spaces begins
1996: Dunkirk joins the Aålborg charter
1997: The first private housings are available
2005: Nicolas Michelin and associes design the Grand Large new buildings
2009: The eco-buildings are delivered
2010: Dunkirk hosts the European Sustainable Cities 6th Conference

Facts

City Facts

Country : France
City : Dunkirk
Area : 37,3 square km
Population : 68 292 inh.
Population density :  1829 inh./square km
GDP per capita (region): $33,716.67 
Source: INSEE

Project facts

Only 5.000 inhabitants live within the inner center, while the city has 94 000 inhabitants and the entire agglomeration 210 000 inhabitants. Rising house prices has driven the population to settle on the urban fringes. The Grand Large project shapes an attractive alternative to peri-urbanisation. The first phase of the project consists of 215 housings. By 2015, 1000 housings are expected to be available.

The historical center renovation, managed by the Spanish architect Joan Busquets, is the next step in the city regeneration process.

Facts for Thought

In 1970 a white paper (Dunkerque 2000) forewarned of the lack of coordination between urban development and port activities. This concern about urban continuity urged public actors to launch a pro-active redevelopment policy.

Today, Dunkirk is the third French port.

Media

Google Map

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Dig this

Blog entry: World Future Council establishes expert commission on Cities and Climate Change

The World Future Council establishes a new expert commission to deal with the topic of cities and climate change.

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Fact/Quote

“Fertilisers are the largest single source (38%) of emissions from agriculture. Livestock is the second largest source of emissions, accounting for 31% of agriculture emissions.”
Stern Review, 2006

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