In Lyon, France, the east bank of the river has undergone a transformation that has taken the former ports from a riverside car park, to a varied public space that will facilitate relaxation and socialising and encourage both city dwellers and wider Lyon residents to use sustainable transport options.
The 10ha site covers a stretch along the river of approximately 5km. The ‘Berges de Rhône’ (Banks of the Rhône) development was a project undertaken by the local authority who launched an architecture competition.
Following this consultation, a team comprising landscape architects from IN SITU Architectes Paysagistes, the architect Françoise-Hélène Jourda, and lighting designers from Coup D’éclat was appointed at the beginning of 2003. The winning design proposed a continuous line of public space and nature running between the ‘Tete d’or and Gerland parks.
The area is mainly used for pedestrian and cycling traffic. A key component of the design process was community consultation, which engaged the local community, sought their input and ideas and ensured the expectations of both local residents and council were managed to avoid irreconcilable differences from the outset. Construction then began in 2005 and was completed in 2007
- At the heart of the development was a new staircase area with a fantastic panoramic view of the river and the historic city
- along the banks of the river, refreshment bars information points, cycle hiring points and sports facilities
- a botanical promenade has been created, replacing the previously paved stretch of beach, with a display of plant species along the Rhone
