Ecological corridor district - Lambersart
Corridor City
Two central elements of the site guided the design: the site's natural heritage and its proximity to the Pont Supérieur metro station.
The ecological corridor, tree heritage and green architecture:
Territorial context: The dynamic mapping of the PLU2 (Local Urban Development Plan 2) indicates that a corridor to be reinforced or developed is marked along the western boundary of the site, i.e., along the railway line. The wooded area extending south of the study area, north of the greenway, is designated as a "tool for the protection and preservation of landscape and environmental features," as are the wooded areas of the residential gardens west of the railway line between Rue Braille and Rue du 8 Mai 1945, and east of the project perimeter on Rue des Flandres. The ecological corridor connects the landscaped cemetery of Ormes and the western part of the Lille metropolitan area towards Sequedin via the wooded areas along the railway lines.
The Pont Supérieur metro station: The presence of the Pont Supérieur metro station in the south of the project led us to propose the creation of a north-south linear pedestrian park in order to promote the landscape qualities and encourage crossing the site towards the station.
The project aims to increase metro access for all Lambersart residents, from Avenue de l'Hippodrome to Avenue de Dunkerque. During the day, an optional elevated walkway through the treetops, accessible to people with reduced mobility, will also be available. Distant views towards the Lille belfry will reinforce the metropolitan character of the project, designed by a team of landscape architects as an experimental model of a resilient city.
LANDSCAPE CONCEPT AND URBAN STRATEGY:
All the trees on the site are preserved by the project. All the smaller trees are transplanted onto the green architecture to enhance the project's role as an ecological corridor.
The project is designed to bring a better quality of life to local residents.
The proposed layout allows for the creation of a large north-south linear park, and there are no buildings adjacent to existing dwellings. This typology makes it possible to offer high-quality, landscaped buildings that open to the south onto a landscaped park.
We propose the creation of terraced and ramped landscaped buildings adjacent to the ecological corridor, which will act as a noise barrier for local residents and the new public park. The green architecture, extending from the wooded strip of the embankment, will create communal terraces accessible to all, surrounded by vegetation.
The entrance to the canopy park is marked by a charming brick building, a relic of the industrial heritage, which we decided to restore to house local shops and a restaurant dedicated to welcoming children and opening onto the park. This urban strategy of incorporating existing elements allows the project to seamlessly integrate with the site's history while minimizing costs.
The project is designed to create a linear, multi-layered biological corridor adjacent to the wooded strips along the railway embankments. It consists of planted areas to the west, reinforcing the existing woodlands. The plant palette is native, including Acer pseudoplatanus, Quercus petraea, Crataegus monogyna, and Prunus spinosa, and includes wetlands integrated into the network, as well as dry, xerophytic grasslands on the slopes of the green buildings. The architecture, integrated into the corridor's biotope, echoes the brick materials of the surrounding neighborhood.
Thus, the stated objectives of the project are to strengthen nature in the city, guaranteeing the acceptability of urban density in accordance with the SCOT (Regional Planning Scheme):
- Improving the living environment and creating amenities for residents;
- The maintenance and restoration of biodiversity;
- Stormwater management;
- The management of urban microclimates (in particular the phenomenon of heat islands);
- Improving air quality.
SOFT TRANSPORTATION
The project is designed to create pedestrian and cycle paths to the adjacent residential areas of Rue Evrard de Frioul, Rue du Chemin Vert, Allée de la Ferme Lelong up to Avenue de l'Hippodrome to encourage the use of the metro towards the Pont Supérieur station.
To improve and shorten pedestrian and cycling routes, and to prioritize pedestrians, cyclists, and other forms of active transportation, vehicle access to the residences is provided beneath the buildings via a shared 6-meter-wide lane. Motorized traffic will be limited to the east-west entrance section of Rue Bonte, which will be designated as a shared space with a 20 km/h speed limit. The roadway will be at the same elevation as the pedestrian zones, which will be paved with a light-colored mineral surface.
The fire lane is shared with the access to the recycling points located in the landscaped park. In order to preserve all the trees on the site, the route and its elevation will be carefully studied.
LIDL: To limit traffic on the site and dedicate it to a children's park, we propose slightly redesigning the LIDL parking lot so that it is directly accessible from Rue Bonte. This optional layout remains highly suitable for the shopping center, which opens onto the park.
A pedestrian bridge over the parking garages to the south could be considered in conjunction with the residence. This area would be closed at night and would be subject to an agreement with the city.
The urban canopy walk:
The plan includes creating accessible terraces on all the green roofs of the new buildings. These shared spaces will strengthen social cohesion within the buildings. As an option, we propose building small walkways between the buildings to create a canopy walkway accessible to people with reduced mobility. Distant views towards the Lille belfry will reinforce the metropolitan character of the project, and views of the adjacent wooded areas would enhance the quality of life.