In the territories developed by Grand Paris Aménagement, you are often required to deal with existing buildings, whose architectural value and structural quality can sometimes be open to question. In the context of creating ZACs (joint development zones) and new development plans, what strategy do you adopt to integrate this heritage?
On the territories developed by Grand Paris Aménagement, we need to shift our perspective and approach regarding existing built heritage.
Treating what is already there as an opportunity rather than a constraint means seizing the chance to preserve a site’s memory; it is what gives a neighborhood its unique identity. It is also an ecological imperative, as new construction emits three times more carbon than rehabilitation, and much of the raw material is already on-site.
Methodologically, this means making building preservation a core design principle of the overall development—an element with which the design team must compose. It also involves defining the programming for these assets early on, as they are often atypical and require a tailored approach built around their future use.
How can urban renewal be designed to take these buildings into account, even when their location appears to be an obstacle to an overall master plan?
I do not believe we should forbid demolition when a building creates such dysfunction that it prevents us from living well together. However, this situation is rather rare, and we still have a way to go. In reality, economic constraints are often what leads to sacrificing what is already there. For instance in Aubervilliers, in the Fort ZAC, together with the local authority and the design team, we chose to retain the five gendarmes’ towers, which tell the history of this site, but we are demolishing the multi-story parking structure, which creates a real physical barrier in the neighborhood and denies the site’s history by blocking access to one of its historical gates.
How does Grand Paris Aménagement plan to overcome these difficulties in its current and future operations ?
In the new operations we launch, we operate on the principle that rehabilitated buildings are transformed at zero margin, so that the decision to demolish is not made for economic reasons. On the contrary, we consider that the rehabilitation of these structures is precisely what will destandardize projects and add value to the entire neighborhood. We also rely on innovative and creative partners, ready to commit alongside us to these projects, which remain a risk-taking endeavor in housing for most developers. Furthermore, we must give a greater place to the issue of preservation in public consultations. Residents are often deeply attached to their heritage, and they help us dismantle preconceived ideas on the subject.
In your geographical scope of intervention, which territories present high potential for transforming existing structures, and why ?
We are reaching the limits of urban sprawl in Île-de-France, and that is a good thing. There is no shortage of sites to transform: degraded commercial and industrial parks, historical heritage—especially industrial—run-down old town centers, and urban renewal projects are all opportunities to intensify the city while adapting it to tomorrow’s challenges.