The CONFLUENCE project

introduction

The Confluence project is a project designed to redevelop the center of Lyon, Perrache, and old industrial area. The project has been fixed to be finished by 2015 and is expected to be sustainable, beneficial for the locals, and increase

Lyon’s economy. But is this all entirely true?

Does it satisfy the locals’ needs?

The atmosphere “...is depressing, unfriendly and even threatening, especially at night.”

The project will include various gardens and parks, and every habitation will have either a collective garden or a ‘promenade’ linked to it. This will make people closer together, and create a friendlier atmosphere.

“Nightlife in Perrache is very unpleasant because of the many prostitutes, hooligans, and homeless people.“

With new leisure centers, more people will be out at night so there will hopefully be less violence and discouraged activity.

Above, a ‘promenade’ along the river ; below, the ‘place nautique’ at night.

does it satisfy the locals’ needs?

“There are many run-down, empty buildings and deserted areas.”

These unused spaces will be replaced by new buildings and leisure centers such as parks (‘place des Archives”), restaurants and cafes along ‘promenades’ and the ‘place nautique’, a museum (Musee des confluences) .

Plus, the tram line will be elongated so more people will travel around Perrache, so there will be fewer deserted areas.

New buildings, linked to a

‘promenade’

Musee des Confluences

Does it satisfy the locals’ needs?

“parking your car is very difficult, and there is a lot of traffic.”

An underground parking place is being built and the project will include the making of many bicycle lanes, and pedestrian-only .... so hopefully, less people will use their car.

What about the poor?

Most people living in Perrache at the moment, are not wealthy. In total, 1500 new homes will be built for the 1st phase: 20% will be social housing, 15% will be intermediar housing, and so 65% will be standard and luxurious. Therefore most shops, restaurants and other activity centers will be mostly marketed for the rich. Will the project therefore only make it harder for the poor? Perhaps it will, however, There has always been a mix in poor and wealthy living in Perrache, and has not caused any major problems apart from perhaps the division in social class. The project might increase this, if only the wealthiest can benefit from the activity centers, while the poor cannot, but there are many things that anyone can benefit from (the ‘place nautique’, the ‘promenades’, ...) .

In red, the area where the underground parking will be built.

Is the project Sustainable?

New Walking Places

• There will be many parks, gardens and ‘promenades’ put in place to make the Presqu’ile more rural and to encourage people to walk or use their bikes than to use their car (14 hectares will be for greenery such as parks, gardens...). For example, the ‘Place nautique’ and the ‘parc du Saone’. A ‘promenade’ along the Saone.

“Le projet envisage un retour a la nature”

Construction (Bioclimatic design, insolation, ventilation)

• In this new project, all the construction must respect different criterias of HQE (Haute Qualité Environnementale) such as reinforced isolation, choice of materials, energy management and of storm waters.• Many buildings will have their walls and/or roof covered in vegetation, and new, more economic types of lighting will be put in place.

Energy consumption:

•The heating must be less than 60 kWh/m²/year, which is opposite to the national average: 110 KWh/m²/year. This will make a decrease of approximately 50%

•The use of Hot water (ECS) will reduce of approximately 37%, going from 40 kWh/m²/year to 25 kWh/m²/year.

•The use of Electricity by housing, is expected to reduce by approximately 50% (from 50 kWh/m²/year to 25 kWh/m²/year.

• 80 % of the project uses renewable energy, and there is already reduction of 40% in energy consumption thanks to the multi climatic use of buildings.

New buildings which will respect these criterias

Is the project Sustainable?

Is the project good for Lyon’s economy?

• With new attractions being builtnew attractions being built, and only replacing rundown buildings or unoccupied spaces, Perrache will only benefit from the project.

• Perrache will have a new image of a buzzing city center, attracting attracting peoplepeople to live there, new businesses and therefore will bring new jobs, which will increase the economy. The number of jobs is ..... to grow from 7000 to 25 000. This of course will be beneficial to the economy.

• The project will therefore extend the actual city centerextend the actual city center (Bellecour, Hotel de Ville, etc.) and double its size. The city center attracts the most people in general, and becomes the most wealthiest part of the city because people like spend a lot of money there. By doubling the city center, the economy increases.

ConclusionOverall, the project is sustainable, beneficial for the locals, and it will

increase Lyon’s economy. The old industrial part of Lyon will no longer be somewhere deserted, unsafe and depressing but will be a buzzing place to

have fun, to work, and to live happily for everyone.

The End