Transformation of the former highway site East of Paris, in the department of Val-de-Marne, several hectares of land was reserved for the construction of a highway connecting the A4 and the A86: called “Voie de Desserte Orientale“. In 2007, the French State abandons the highway project in favour of a mixed used urban planning project. The territory of the VDO is a site with manifold treasures. Situated 15 km from Paris and already close to the surrounding large forests, the site creates a transition between the urban areas and the open landscapes. The relief is complex and crossed by the Marne. The large diversity of its urban fabric shows its urban development: individual and collective housing, commercial and industrial areas. The challenge of this territory is the progressive transformation towards a denser and integrated urbanization. We identified three major sequences with three major project areas. On one of the project areas, the Bec de Canard at Sucy-en-Brie, the development of an eco-neighborhood has been tested with the objective of establishing micro-centralities and short circuits, for a low carbon impact area.

Transformation of a former highway site – Val de Marne

RETHINK (leading architect) with MTA, landscape architects Collaborators: C. Van Doesburg, A. Houdebert Call for tender Completed Surface: 40 ha Planning fees BT: 70 kE Planning time: 12 months Completion: 2015 Client: AFTRP 195, rue de Bercy, F-75012 Paris Location: Chennevières s/M, Ormesson s/M, Sucy-en-Brie Programme: Urban study Mission: Analysis and Master plan

Download the project sheet (in french) >