“By reversing the conventional method of designing an urban park, the footprint of the building is reduced, and the park expands. The density of the program increases by the slenderness and compactness of the buildings.”
Urban study Caen
This is not astonishing to see a town in such a state of display when its center only promise so few urban activity.
The proposal for this part of the peninsula is to intend to revive Caen centre as an attractive place for the region. This particular site is situated in the geographical centre of the city, close to the most recents urban evolutions.
The challenges of requalification of the peninsula call for the following objectives:
• Preserve the ecological continuity of the area from the Grande Prairie to the Orne Valley
• Green space release in the site
• Take advantage of the location and centrality of the site in order to create an attraction area offered to the whole agglomeration of Caen la Mer and able to revitalizing the centre.
• Combine public space and the built areas a same entity, at the scale of the entire edge of the peninsula.
• Diversify landscape proposals according to the natural and built context.
• Define a large programmatic strategy, to ensure ongoing activity in the site.
• Programming a flexible urban strategy in the future development of real estate’s operations, in relation with its implementation and phasing.
• Ensure land feasibility, through adequate planning at the level of density of built area.
• Provide with adequate technical solutions to ensure energy efficiency and limited maintenance of public spaces.
• Prioritize public transit and pedestrian travel / bicycles, while maintaining car service, functional car parks.
• Integrate preservation and enhancement of the site’s industrial historical and naval heritage.
• Anticipate flexibility in public spaces to accommodate different types of urban possibilities and events.
credits
Architects : OMA France (Clément Blanchet)
Client : Ville de Caen
Nature of the operation : Competition
Realised in : 2011
Site : Caen, France
Program : Masterplan
Budget : NC
team composition
Landscape : Petra Blaisse / Inside-Outside