Paris: 23 very different urban sites offered to the imagination
> Click here to access the International Consultation details
Click to see bigger
The City of Paris offers investors, developers, architects, end-users, artists and designers twenty-three development sites with the objective to "reinvent Paris". They have until 31st January 2015 to form consortiums, create extended multi-disciplinary "project teams" and to confirm their expression of interest.
The bids will be analysed "on merit" under the criteria of price, feasibility, architectural, urban and environmental quality... But also - and especially - with consideration to the "innovative character of the project" and, in particular, on the basis of "the state of the art and techniques developed in France and abroad". On the understanding that the two juries (a Parisian and an international jury), who will rank the projects submitted to the Mayor, will recompense the pioneers and world-class proposals.
Some outstanding projects
Among the twenty-three sites proposed in the call for innovative urban projects, there are some outstanding sites. For example, two volumes above the Paris ring road to construct bridge-buildings: 3,891m² at the Porte des Ternes (open development programme) and 6,450m² over Pershing Boulevard, next to the Palais des Congrès, in the direction of La Défense (development programme to include 30% social housing).
Thirteen of the twenty-three sites will be awarded to developers vacant. The other ten are existing buildings. Some of them are highly symbolic, like the Morland Administration Centre - a high-rise building close to Ile Saint Louis. Here, city hall expects an "exceptional" project with a development programme where its only requirement is the provision of a nursery and 5,000m² of social housing. Also on the list, several town houses to be reinvented in the 4th, 5th and 17th Arrondissements of Paris.
Electrical substation, Voltaire - objective : the Cinema of Tomorrow - click
With open development programmes, all sites should resolve the complex relation between innovation within the historic built environment. Another issue in the call for proposals for industrial heritage projects, such as the Massena station and the Voltaire substation that will accommodate "The Cinema of Tomorrow" (conserved by the PLU, local development plan). The "carte blanche" given to the teams is more or less “blanche” depending on the site. In some cases, the municipality imposes specific development requirements such as social housing lacking in some districts. Conversely, other vacant sites are free from programme constraints like the unusual Poterne des Peupliers, 2,000m² of land wedged between the Gentilly cemetery and the ring road, accessed by the T3 tramway.
Finally, several sites on the list waiting for bids from developers join the pilot projects under the innovation consultation; for example, the Evangile Triangle in lot N2, Clichy-Batignolles and the lot M5A2, Paris Rive Gauche.
Land uses, construction, development proposals... cutting-edge innovation
As for innovation, the call for proposals is not short on avenues to explore. Yet it is by no means exhaustive: "By definition, innovation can not be defined and, in the abstract, it's the alchemy of high standards, new technologies and scrupulously taking possession of the objectives and requirements that arise".
City hall suggests several themes whereby to innovate. "First" in the functions where it suggests plural, transformable or shareable buildings. Ways of living, working, shopping, entertainment also constitute one of the challenges identified by the City of Paris in its call for innovative projects.
Innovation will also be found in the real estate projects, their architecture, their materials and construction techniques. In a "zero carbon/zero waste" objective, city hall wants developers to consider the use of bio-resourced materials for their bio-climatic, connected, productive buildings within an expressly green, economic cycle integrated into the Paris green and blue grid.
Construct bridge-buildings on the Paris ring road porte Maillot - 6,450m² over Pershing Boulevard, next to the Palais des Congrès, in the direction of La Défense - click the picture
Many sites are located within what Jean-Louis Missika calls the "arc of innovation". And there, as in the call for projects on the 23 sites, the objective is obviously to provide Paris with a showcase, in particular economic. Therefore, the call is also for large international companies that want to locate within the capital and offer them a resolutely modern gesture within the city.
Finally (and especially?), the desire for municipal innovation crystallises when setting up the project. City hall expects diversified teams that work "faster and better". Depending upon the sites, the proposals and their developers, it is ready to consider freehold transactions, transfers of property rights or other long-term leases. The consultation documents stipulate that "innovative financial arrangements necessary to ensure the economic viability of projects will be encouraged". H. C. et R. C.
> Project sites presentation : http://www.reinventer.paris/en
LIST OF PROJECT SITES
1 - Building, boulevard Morland (4th Arrdt)
17, boulevard Morland
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1247-morland-4e.html
2 - Hôtel de Coulanges (4th Arrdt)
35-37, rue des Francs-Bourgeois
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1256-hotel-de-coulanges-4e.html
3 - 15th/18th century town house (5th Arrdt)
16, rue de la Bûcherie
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1257-hotel-particulier-5e.html
4 - Electrical substation, Voltaire (11th Arrdt)
14, avenue Parmentier
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1248-sous-station-voltaire-11e.html
5 - Former Music Conservatory (13th Arrdt)
21-23 rue Albert Bayet / 199 boulevard Vincent-Auriol
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1238-ancien-conservatoire-13e.html
6 - Former Massena train station (13th Arrdt)
1-3 rue Régnault
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1239-gare-massena-13e.html
7 - Vacant site, Paris Rive Gauche (13th Arrdt)
rue Jean Antoine-de-Baïf / boulevard Masséna
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1240-paris-rive-gauche-13e.html
8 - Vacant site, Poterne des Peupliers (13th Arrdt)
rue Sainte-Hélène et boulevard Kellerman
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1237-poterne-des-peupliers-13e.html
9 - Vacant site, rue Edison (13th Arrdt)
67-69, rue Edison
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1235-edison-13e.html
10 - Service road, avenue d'Italie (13th Arrdt)
2, avenue d'Italie
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1250-italie-13e.html
11 - Public Baths, Castagnary 1930 (15th Arrdt)
34, rue Castagnary
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1236-bains-douches-castagnary-15e.html
12 - Magistrates Court, Clichy-Batignolles (17th Arrdt)
angle de l'avenue de la Porte de Clichy et du boulevard périphérique
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1242-clichy-batignolles-17e.html
13 - Gothic town house 1880 (17th Arrdt)
29, avenue de Villiers
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1241-hotel-particulier-17e.html
14 - Housing estates, Pitet-Curnonsky (17th Arrdt)
1-3-7-11-15-17-23A rue Curnonsky et 5-10 rue Pitet
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1255-pitet-curnonsky-17e.html
15 - Apartments, car park and garage, Bessières/Pouchet (17th Arrdt)
73-89 boulevard Bessières / 2-8 rue du Docteur Paul Brousse
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1254-bessieres-17e.html
16 - Bridge-building, Porte Maillot/Pershing (17th Arrdt)
périphérique parking Pershing et gare routière Ryanair au niveau Palais des Congrès
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1251-pershing-17e.html
17 - Bridge-Building, Porte Maillot/Ternes (17th Arrdt)
périphérique / nord avenue de la porte des Ternes
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1252-ternes-villiers-17e.html
18 - Vacant Industrial Building, Ordener (18th Arrdt)
183, rue Ordener
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1258-ordener-18e.html
19 - Vacant site, Ourcq Jaurès (19th Arrdt)
2 bis rue de l'Ourcq
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1243-ourcq-jaures-19e.html
20 - Eole-Evangile Triangle, Rosa Parks train station (19th Arrdt)
198, rue d'Aubervilliers
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1244-triangle-eole-evangile-19e.html
21 - Former garage, Gambetta (20th Arrdt)
205, avenue Gambetta
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1246-gambetta-20e.html
22 - Vacant site, Buzenval (20th Arrdt)
61, rue de Buzenval
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1245-buzenval-20e.html
23 - Vacant site, Piat-Pyrénées (20th Arrdt)
57-59 rue Piat
http://www.reinventer.paris/en/sites/1253-piat-20e.html