A third of the developed surface area of L'Île-Saint-Denis is occupied by warehouses, many of which are no longer in use. This site covers 22 of the island’s 100 hectares.

Philippon-Kalt, architects and urban planners, led a team to propose reconverting this site into a riverside eco-district, and have been responsible for bringing their plans to fruition.

This area, which is currently under development and located less than 2km from Paris’s Saint-Denis station, is set to benefit from the “Grand Paris” initiative.

An in-depth reflection on water and biodiversity, energy, mobility and pollution was conducted in collaboration with specialist firms to ensure that the eco-district remains an example to follow over time.

In 2009, the project, led by Michel Bourgain, Mayor of Île-Saint-Denis, and by the authorities of the larger Plaine Commune area, was chosen as the prototype district at the NQU consultation (label Nouveaux Quartiers Urbains – New Urban Districts), and it received the Prize of the Future, National List of Eco-Districts 2011.
On 17 February 2013, the riverside eco-district charter was signed by all of the project’s partners.

THE 3 i

The concepts developed for this new district are based on the three main issues of L'Île-Saint-Denis:

Insularity
By creating north-south connections between the two residential districts on L'Île-Saint Denis.

Inter-commune links
By improving communications with neighbouring communes and involving the new district in the local development processes.

Identity
By respecting the principle of setting a good example in environmental matters and promoting water as a factor of identity for residents.

FROM Eco-district to eco-CIT'ISLAND

Development: participatory governance
A shared culture is created in collaboration with all of the project’s stakeholders. The Eco-District Charter, a document to ensure the commitment of the various partners, uses the same concepts as presented by the planners.
Throughout the project, an active debate is being maintained, by means of consultation meetings with residents: which services should be available in the mobility centres, plans for public spaces, rooms for communal use, etc.

blocks and zones

The project is divided into four main interconnected blocks, planned according to their surroundings.

Schooling hub, to the north
to create links with the city centre

Commercial hub, to the south
continuing on from the shops in the Marques Avenue outlet centre

Breaking up the flow (Entre Deux Rives, Marques Avenue, Printemps, intermediary zone and Galeries Lafayette) reduces the distances, makes it easier to get one’s bearings and offers a varied and attractive view of the site.

The varied building heights (with light yellow above and burgundy below) mark out these blocks, with certain points standing out in the impressive riverside landscape, like lighthouses, to mark a particular place: the footbridge connecting to Saint Denis, the shoreline of the shorter bank…

The building structures also highlight the differences between the banks alongside the two branches of the Seine: undeveloped with intimist-style ambience on the shorter west shore, with 3-5-storey buildings, and a more ordered alignment of 7-storey buildings on the longer east shore.

Social, functional and generational DIVERSITY

The idea is to create a connection between the current residents of L'Île Saint Denis and new arrivals through diversity and intermingling of housing schemes in a single building: housing cooperatives, social and private ownership, social renting.

According to the plan, different schemes are to overlap, so that there is always movement and life throughout the day. The close proximity between living, working and leisure spaces creates a lively district.

1,000 housing units for 1,000 jobs preferably in the culture sector in connection with the creation cluster, the sport and entertainment sectors in connection with the Seine, or the sustainable development sector in connection with the environmental goals of this new district.

A landscape constantly reshaped by the water

Water, a significant part of the district’s identity, is shown off by landscaping which contributes to the comfort and quality of life of residents.

An educational trail on the theme of water illustrates the alternative, landscape-focused and recreational approach to using the resource
Recovery and reuse of rainwater to save on tap water.
Management of run-off water through landscaping to prevent discharge into drains.
Alternative management of waste water for experimental schemes such as floating housing.
Development of biotopes in ponds to reduce pollution.
Natural bathing space within the pioneering sustainable development, supplied by water from the Seine which is filtered by plants.

A protected ecosystem
The whole district overlooks the Seine. On the developed land, the riverbanks have been cleared, encouraging the development of riparian forest.
Viewpoints, riverside paths, floating jetties and attractive shorelines line the pathways which connect the various zones on the island and bring life to the riverbank.

Towards green travel

Making the site’s problems into environmental plus points

Transforming the site’s problems (electromagnetic, acoustic, atmospheric, pollution, risk of flooding) into positives  
A space bordered by high voltage electricity lines is transformed into a humid nature reserve, ensuring biotic continuity between the two banks.
The most polluted spots are neutralised using watertight basins which are home to fauna and flora from humid environments

Creation of acoustic protection on the A86 viaduct using photovoltaic panels  
The Ponkawall, an urban design proposed by Philippon-Kalt for the eco-district, acts as a noise reduction wall, produces renewable energy and, via its QR code, creates an interface for local interactive communication between all the district’s stakeholders. It is an idea that could be replicated on other sites throughout the country.

Energy: a systemic approach

The ambitious energy specifications can be modified to cope with changes in energy regulations (phase 2: 80% Passive / 20% energy-plus-buildings).
The energy consumption/production is calculated on an overall basis, based on renewable energy produced by the whole eco-district and not by the building as the labels require.
The political choice of a district heating network is intended to be used to extend to older buildings in the city centre an environmentally-friendly network including 60% REn using local geothermal pumping.
Experimental systems are planned for smaller buildings.

Recovery of materials produced by demolition

Key dates

2016 – 2017
Delivery of first part of Printemps site

2012 and 2014
Delivery of “Entre Deux Rives”, 1st step of the riverside eco-district

2013
Signature of the Riverside Eco-District charter by all the project’s stakeholders

2012 – 2022
Building of two-site commercial development zone

2009
Creation of two-site commercial development zone – Printemps and Galeries Lafayette site (13 ha)

2007 - 2008
Printemps site (6 ha) - Contest
ING Brémond - West 8 Mutabilis, Group laureate

2006-2007
Site of L'Île-Saint-Denis warehouses (22 ha)
Structured study, concepts and guidelines for riverside eco-district