21st Century (2000–present)

Lyon Confluence Masterplan

2003 · France · Western & Central Europe · Post-industrial regeneration and waterfront urbanism · Planned by Lyon Confluence SPL; Herzog & de Meuron (phase); Nicolas Michelin

Herzog & de Meuron's axonometric masterplan drawing for the second phase of Lyon Confluence, showing the block structure between Cours Charlemagne, Rue Smith and the Esplanade François Mitterrand with each parcel's architect noted. · © Herzog & de Meuron — used with credit · Herzog & de Meuron with Michel Desvigne Paysagiste — Lyon La Confluence Master Plan, 2nd Phase (Îlot A3)

Core idea

Peninsula industrial lands to mixed-use eco-district

Why it matters

European reference for phased riverfront regeneration

Description

Lyon Confluence (from 2003) regenerated a derelict industrial peninsula at the meeting of two rivers into a mixed-use, sustainability-focused district of bold contemporary architecture, public riverbanks, and green spaces, doubling the city centre.

Significance

Lyon Confluence is a flagship French example of sustainable, design-led waterfront regeneration and a widely studied model of extending a historic city centre onto post-industrial land.

What shaped it

The compact city (1973-1990s)
Sustainable development (Brundtland) (1987)
Transit-oriented development (TOD) (1993)

Sources

Open it on the interactive timeline →

hub.toekom.st — History of Urbanism · an interactive timeline of 850 planned cities across 6,000 years.