Over 50 developments given green light as part of Greater Paris project

As part of a ‘reinventing the metropolis’ competition, proposals to re-purpose and renovate 51 unused sites in the Paris suburbs have been chosen and will now undergo planning permission.

“This was the most large-scale architectural and urbanism competition of its kind in Europe”, declared Patrick Ollier, the president of the Metropole du Grand Paris, the government division covering Paris and its immediate three suburbs that make up Petite Couronne.

Winners of the competition, which had 420 entrants in total, were announced on October 18th in the suburb of Nogent in Val-de-Marne. They will spend the next few years turning around disused warehouses, industrial complexes, derelict building sites, unused sports fields and other brownfield assets in an effort to create “a new metropolitan identity.” One third of the sites are located near the future branches of the Greater Paris express.

Private investments into these developments are set to total 7 billion euros according to Patrick Ollier, and 9,000 will be employed bringing them to fruition over the next 7 years.

The neighborhood around Saint-Denis station in the north will see 22 projects alone. Some 176,000 m2 will be redeveloped around the station that will become a transport hub with its new connections, with 7,000 m2 of park completing a site aiming to provide a ‘step’ into Paris for those arriving from Charles de Gaulle airport.

In the southern suburb of Antony, Antonypole (title picture) is a housing development spanning 65,250 m2.

In Bagnolet, a 5,458 m2 building will house commercial outlets, offices and green spaces around it, using an old market building near the Boulevard Gallieni. A section specifically dedicated to haute-couture will also be created.

In Sevran, the Terre d’Eaux development will create a nautical complex on the existing Montceleux site that has lain undeveloped for some time. Linkcity is developing the site which will have – get this – an indoor surfing pool. Three lakes, a reservoir, and an outdoor surfing pool will complete the project which some have called the most audacious of all the developments entered into the competition.

The general public will be able to see all 50-plus projects at the Pavillon de l’Arsenal in the 6th arrondissement in the permanent exhibition “Paris, a city in the Making.”

image © Linkcity Ile-de-France