CHRISTELER Stéphane URBAN GROWTH WITHOUT SPRAWL: FOUR EXAMPLES IN THE GENEVESE REGION

Transcription

1 CHRISTELER Stéphane URBAN GROWTH WITHOUT SPRAWL: FOUR EXAMPLES IN THE GENEVESE REGION

2 INDEX 1) Issues of urban densification 2) Perceptions of the urban densification 3) The consequences of urban densification 4) Examples of «without sprawling densification in Geneva»:: the site of Artamis, the tip of the junction, the «Golden Rectangle» and the «Etoile- Annemasse»

3 AIM, FOCUS AND METHODOLOGY For many decades, urban expansion and development have only been planned horizontally. Cities have mushroomed out into the suburbs, creating new areas requiring investments in new infrastructure and in different networks in order o to enhance the value of these districts and to connect them efficiently to the urban dynamics of city centres. With the aim of countering the opinion long-defended by urban planners, who believed that they could, in this way, ensure the cities future, we will present four examples of projects, some of re-classification and some of urban development in the city and region of Geneva. The local approach The idea is to restore a certain number of industrial areas and change them into residential and recreational areas. The derelict areas will undergo a transformation rather than a densification, as shown by the three examples of more judicious uses of land. This will be illustrated by two examples. The cantonal approach The aim is to favour spatial development in accordance with a logic of continuity in relation to the existing urban zone, by avoiding scattering built t infrastructures, and reconciling the necessity of building housing in the periphery -the peripheral zones that could potentially incorporate housing complement the three zones situated in the city centre- with those of maintaining and creating green areas, and generally ly preserving un- built areas. This will be illustrated by two more examples.

4 1) ISSUES OF URBAN DENSIFICATION I It seems that we are assisting to a phenomenon of redensification n of centres and deceleration of urban sprawl. In addition, dense city is seen as more favourable to public transportation and may reduce the nuisance to automobile use. There is also a concern to preserve natural areas. Urban density: process leading to sound management of urban space e by concentrating housing, employment and transport in an area as limited as possible while respecting the natural qualities of these spaces. Aim: the development needs of the city have to be satisfied by avoiding a urban sprawl that increases the pressure on natural areas, phenomenon that contributes some distances, for example between residence and working area.

5 1) ISSUES OF URBAN DENSIFICATION II Which forms of urban densification have to be planned to combine quality and rationality? The polycentric densification appears to be the wisest and the most m able to converge the views and the interests. - First, it allows dispatching the constructions on a more or less balanced new housing concept in the already urbanized territory. - Second, it helps developing urban polarities beneath the city centre and downtown Geneva. It contributes to struggle against the hypertrophy phy of the centre. - Finally, it may create much more beneficial housing areas which are best suited while promoting their integration into the existing urban fabric.

6 2) PERCEPTIONS ON THE URBAN DENSIFICATION I The urban density raises various perceptions by urban actors. According to urban planning of the State and the City of Geneva: - It represents a boon in the fight against excessive space consumption, - It promotes the rational management of urban spaces in the context of small and dense cities as Geneva, - It preserves spaces and natural greens in the peripheries, well-being in the city. - Similarly, it doesn t t necessarily mean the establishment of huge towers that bear shadows or create gashes cutting sight in the territory.

7 2) PERCEPTIONS ON THE URBAN DENSIFICATION II A city like Geneva is rich, attractive and competitive, Despite the high cost of living, the city welcomes every year thousands of qualified people to pursue its economic performance, At the same time, the annual production of housing in the township is in a context where cantonal and essentially communal space no longer offers many opportunities to build, The issue of urban density in Geneva has its relevance as a: - mean to reinvent the city, - way of combining economic and urban growth, - way to rationalize consumption of urban space.

8 3) THE CONSEQUENCES OF URBAN DENSIFICATION I Urban densification: something that involves consequences like: - reducing gaps in the city, - raising the height of buildings. Idea: not to make American style quarters with skyscraper, but make m sure to concentrate housing and jobs in buildings with a reasonable height in order to waste space unusefully.

9 3) THE CONSEQUENCES OF URBAN DENSIFICATION II On the political level: A strong political consensus between elected officials has to be established to agree on a proper densification. In terms of political actors: - For the left, urban densification can meet part of the social housing needs, - For the right, this densification represents an opportunity to invigorate i the construction market sclerozed by the housing crisis.

10 3) THE CONSEQUENCES OF URBAN On the economic front: Two consequences: DENSIFICATION III - Costs of densification are high in terms of investments. Who will pay and how will the costs will be distributed between stakeholders? - Density may result in an increase in rents which are likely to exclude from access to property categories of the population with low incomes.

11 3) THE CONSEQUENCES OF URBAN In terms of transport: DENSIFICATION IV - Density increases the need for parking places. - The establishment of public transportation is a necessary accompaniment to discourage car use and to fight against pollution.

12 3) THE CONSEQUENCES OF URBAN On the environmental front: DENSIFICATION V Urban densification results in reducing pressure on natural and agricultural areas. It is a way to preserve urban ecology maintaning green surfaces around the city. It is also a way to reduce urban pollution.

13 3) THE CONSEQUENCES OF URBAN On the cultural front: DENSIFICATION VI Urban density helps develop social mixity, instead of creating disseminated habitat. It may break down the social boundaries of the city, reinforcing its cultural vitality by cohabitation of different social classes.

14 4) FOUR EXAMPLES OF «WITHOUT SPRAWLING DENSIFICATION IN 4.1) ARTAMIS GENEVA» 4.2) THE TIP OF THE «JUNCTION» 4.3) THE GOLDEN RECTANGLE 4.4) THE «ETOILE ANNEMASSE»

15 4) FOUR EXAMPLES OF «WITHOUT SPRAWLING DENSIFICATION IN 4.1 ) ARTAMIS: GENEVA» I

16 4) FOUR EXAMPLES OF «WITHOUT 4.1 ) ARTAMIS: SPRAWLING DENSIFICATION IN GENEVA» II Site located between the street beside the Rhone river and the Boulevard B Saint-Georges. Between 1996 and summer 2008, it was an area of craft work and alternative a culture. It offered during twelve years an area of freedom negotiated with City C of Geneva and the Industrial Services, owners of the land. Its demolition has already been decided, but the resettlement of industrial and craft activities has not found any favourable issues. The purpose of this demolition is to build an ecological quarter.. An important aspect of this project is the densification of the existing urban fabric.

17 4) FOUR EXAMPLES OF «WITHOUT SPRAWLING DENSIFICATION IN GENEVA» III 4.2 ) THE TIP OF THE «JUNCTION»:

18 4) FOUR EXAMPLES OF «WITHOUT SPRAWLING DENSIFICATION IN 4.2 ) THE TIP OF THE «JUNCTION»: GENEVA» IV Site lying on a triangular-shaped perimeter of about six hectares, located between the Rhone in the north and the Arve in the south. - One sector is property of the State of Geneva, on which is located an insatallation of Industrial Services of Geneva, the building of the Canoe Club and d the filing of the Geneva Public transportation company, two thirds of them are in a zone of greenery and one third in a construction zone, near the Kugler factory. - The other sector is formed by two plots with the former administrative building of the Geneva Company trams and electrical installations.

19 4) FOUR EXAMPLES OF «WITHOUT SPRAWLING DENSIFICATION IN GENEVA» V 4.3 ) THE GOLDEN RECTANGLE :

20 4) FOUR EXAMPLES OF «WITHOUT SPRAWLING DENSIFICATION IN GENEVA» VI 4.3 ) THE GOLDEN RECTANGLE : - It is one of ten border projects defined in the Planning Charter of the area between canton de Genève, de Vaud and France. - These projects aim to create a better distribution of activities and employments within The metropolitan area of Geneva, notably by developing new areas of activity. Four objectives are related to the Golden Rectangle: 1) Development of business aviation, 2) Development of high technology related to technology transfers of the European Nuclear Research Center (CERN), 3) Stimulation of the hosting of international economic activities, places of exchange, housing and services for Franco-Genevese space, 4) Enhancement of the attractiveness of the territory: creation of natural areas and utilities.

21 4) FOUR EXAMPLES OF «WITHOUT SPRAWLING DENSIFICATION IN GENEVA» VII 4.4 ) THE «ETOILE ANNEMASSE» :

22 4) FOUR EXAMPLES OF «WITHOUT SPRAWLING DENSIFICATION IN GENEVA» VII : 4.4 ) THE «ETOILE ANNEMASSE» : This is another cross-border project included in the Charter for Development of the Greater Franco-Valdo Valdo-Geneva,, located east of Geneva. This urban project, which takes place around Annemasse station, is a crucial sector for a polycentric development of the metropolitan area in Geneva and is defined by: - An area of hectares, currently representing about 120,000 inhabitants, which will locate housing, shops, equipment, a business serving the Franco-Valdo Valdo- Genevese metropolitan area. - A centre of exchange between intermodal trains, buses, cars, bicycles and pedestrians. Furthermore, it is planned to realize the project of City of Solidarity with essentially NGO s. With an area of approximately square meters, the sector will be reserved for construction of residential areas. On the location of the old factories destined to be demolished, a hundred of homes will be built around a square of square meters.

23 5) CONCLUSION: Our cities indeed have the tendency to manage their development horizontally and since there exists always more efficient railway, but particularly road infrastructure to satisfy the always more important each of us needs of mobility, the distances to cover to go from home to office fice are always longer. In case of road infrastructure, these more important distances induced i by the horizontal growth of cities contribute to increase the main environmental problems, like noise and pollution. This presentation aimed at showing that the best way to maintain different urban infrastructure (housing, leisure and economic activities) close to each other is to build the city «into the city» by using the disused areas allocated to old fallow or the empty plots -mostly devoted to agriculture- between two existing urban areas.