URBAN FAMERY | CLERMONT-FERRAND | FRANCE | 2014
The city of Clermont-Ferrand in Central France is a metropolis that today enjoys a significant historical, environmental and architectural patrimony.
Its urban sprawl now includes two historic centers and was created between two landscape limits.
The first, to the west, is natural; the chain of the Puys, the second, to the east, is artificial; the A71 motorway.
These environmental constraints have therefore oriented the urban development of the city alongside a North-South axis.
Its urban sprawl now includes two historic centers and was created between two landscape limits.
The first, to the west, is natural; the chain of the Puys, the second, to the east, is artificial; the A71 motorway.
These environmental constraints have therefore oriented the urban development of the city alongside a North-South axis.
Today the issue of urban agriculture is a topic that is becoming essential in the future development of cities.
This is why the stakes of this project are to make a proposal for blending the terms "city" and "campaign" by the establishment of a farm structure in the heart of the urban dynamics.
This is why the stakes of this project are to make a proposal for blending the terms "city" and "campaign" by the establishment of a farm structure in the heart of the urban dynamics.
On the territorial map, you can see that the route of the tram (iconic transportation) of Clermont-Ferrand follows the pattern of its urban development.
We also note that most major metropolitan facilities are located along this transport but are largely concentrated in the southern part of the city.
We also note that most major metropolitan facilities are located along this transport but are largely concentrated in the southern part of the city.
The project's angle of attack is located in the north of Clermont-Ferrand (see the framing on the territorial map), on the edge of the last metropolitan facilities on an industrial site, the area is not less than 33 hectares and is already part of the urban sprawl of the city.
The factory site is owned by the Michelin company. It is an iconic, well-known place to the Clermont community because it was an important driver in the economic development of the city in the early twentieth century, especially after the Second World War. During the seventies, it was then not less than 30,000 employees working on the site and accommodated in 8000 units located in the heart of workers cities designed for this purpose.
Today the site only partially works and is on the verge of a total transformation. He leaves an important land inheritance for the development of Clermont-Ferrand. Currently the situation of the plants is defined as a gigantic compact block, fully enclosed by a perimeter wall.
It lies at the crossroads of different neighborhoods (Chanturgue, Montferrand, the Gauthière ...) that have a different identity due to the morphological composition of their built and thus their social identities.
If today the site is defined as a fracture in the city, this new project can redefines it as an element of liaison and of new urban connections.
It lies at the crossroads of different neighborhoods (Chanturgue, Montferrand, the Gauthière ...) that have a different identity due to the morphological composition of their built and thus their social identities.
If today the site is defined as a fracture in the city, this new project can redefines it as an element of liaison and of new urban connections.
The first part of the work is to analyze the different existing and important elements to create a first approach allowing to effectively respond to the expectations of such a huge site.
In this work of identification, it was noted the existence of important roads, which will become a support for the land distribution frame, and the presence of an underground river (the Tiretaine) that will allow the water supply the project. We can also note the presence of three buildings with iconic architectural values whose mutation of uses is possible.
In this work of identification, it was noted the existence of important roads, which will become a support for the land distribution frame, and the presence of an underground river (the Tiretaine) that will allow the water supply the project. We can also note the presence of three buildings with iconic architectural values whose mutation of uses is possible.
From a strategic point of view, it was important to initially divide the land into different parts in order to anticipate the project implementation phase. To do this, two main lines of traffic will be set up in order to cross the block in two orthogonal directions. The second idea is to focus the housing around the three buildings devoted to rehabilitation to centralize efforts and leave a maximum vacant space while meeting the demand for land. Then, the third is to subdivide outdoor areas with the establishment of a phytoremediation system.
Around 1968, the young architects of the "radical architecture" movement attacked the established order, the academic institutions and the major theories of rural-urban and regional planning, inherited from the thought of the nineteenth and early twentieth century.
They then proposed the "radical" movement and spread the need for political and environmental commitment in architecture and for a more pragmatic, activist, and less theoretical urban planning. They developed a scathing critique of capitalism, promoted social unity and announced the end of the urban-rural duality. "The urban space is made to nature, agriculture and again flocks of sheep invade it ... In this approach, the anti-capitalist green revolt states clearly its role: plow the streets to achieve physical metamorphosis of the urban land with a radicalization of lifestyles. "
They then proposed the "radical" movement and spread the need for political and environmental commitment in architecture and for a more pragmatic, activist, and less theoretical urban planning. They developed a scathing critique of capitalism, promoted social unity and announced the end of the urban-rural duality. "The urban space is made to nature, agriculture and again flocks of sheep invade it ... In this approach, the anti-capitalist green revolt states clearly its role: plow the streets to achieve physical metamorphosis of the urban land with a radicalization of lifestyles. "
The main utopia of the project is thus the idea to remove the distinction between town and country by creating a project with autarkic objectives
The project is then presented in two parts.
- The first is the urban area, with the creation of 1,500 new housing and proximity facilities centered on the main axis of north-south traffic.
The three existing buildings will be refurbished to accommodate a research center on urban agriculture, a training center and various distribution points.
The three existing buildings will be refurbished to accommodate a research center on urban agriculture, a training center and various distribution points.
- The second part takes care of the outdoor spaces that serve as an urban park and a pasture for animals. The field is subdivided into different segments by pathways following on the geometry of the frame, and accompanied by a water treatment system.
Finally, the farms are positioned longitudinally along the east-west axis to create ties between the city (the full) and country (the blank)
The architectural choice for the farms, which are overhead structures defined as long-span bridge type, was chosen in order to keep readability between city elements already present through the empty spaces.
In the arrangement of agricultural farms there are two distinct types of use by the geometry of the project. Longitudinally, there is the portion of animal exploitation and agricultural production while on the vertical plane there are the resource processing elements (product packaging, water treatment, anaerobic digestion plant ...).
In the horizontal arrangement there are the different animals housings. The direct link with the structure serves to remove animal waste immediately and process it to the basement where there is the central anaerobic digestion system to create biogas. The structure also allows animals to access pasture that is also found on the roof of the farms.
In the arrangement of agricultural farms there are two distinct types of use by the geometry of the project. Longitudinally, there is the portion of animal exploitation and agricultural production while on the vertical plane there are the resource processing elements (product packaging, water treatment, anaerobic digestion plant ...).
In the horizontal arrangement there are the different animals housings. The direct link with the structure serves to remove animal waste immediately and process it to the basement where there is the central anaerobic digestion system to create biogas. The structure also allows animals to access pasture that is also found on the roof of the farms.
Facing them, there are the spaces of intensive crops. We then follow the production path starting from the mother plants through the cuttings, culture, and finally harvest activities. The plants are then routed underground to be processed, packaged, stored and distributed.
The final element of the program located in the basement is the water treatment. First, we draw water from the Tiretaine to power the project, and then the dirty water is discharged into the phyto-purification systems on site. After natural treatment, the water are controlled to be rejected back into the Tiretaine.
The final element of the program located in the basement is the water treatment. First, we draw water from the Tiretaine to power the project, and then the dirty water is discharged into the phyto-purification systems on site. After natural treatment, the water are controlled to be rejected back into the Tiretaine.
The result is to create a short operating cycle so that all the steps between production, delivery and resource processing are done in the same chamber without external help.
To enter more fully into the details of the project and to demonstrate its effectiveness, motorized hydroponic systems specially adapted for the project were designed.
Measuring from 7 to 15 meters high, these devices have been designed to allow for intensive cultivation of up to 130 plants per structures and simultaneously. Each device requires one to four employees for proper operation.
The device consists of two flanks. The first is used for the growth of the cuttings, and the second for the flowering of the plants. The motorized system then provides an effective and continuous rotation along the plants cycle. It also offers the possibility for men to always work at the same level without having to move.
The intake of water is taken directly from the metallic structure of the system which separates clean water and sewage. An iris closing-system prevents the water to flow while the engines are running.
The device consists of two flanks. The first is used for the growth of the cuttings, and the second for the flowering of the plants. The motorized system then provides an effective and continuous rotation along the plants cycle. It also offers the possibility for men to always work at the same level without having to move.
The intake of water is taken directly from the metallic structure of the system which separates clean water and sewage. An iris closing-system prevents the water to flow while the engines are running.
When the products placed in flowering are old enough to be harvested, items that are still growing take their places and thus leave the space for new cuttings under growing lights. We witness a continuous and uninterrupted culture cycle.
