Béreult Valley / Graville-la-Vallée

Concept

Arte Charpentier carried out an urban planning and feasibility study. The Béreult Valley/ Graville-la-Vallée neighbourhood is part of the project launched by the City of Le Havre to reclaim the southern districts, as part of the New National Urban Renewal Programme (NPNRU).

The project benefited from two years of in-depth research, between studies and consultation with residents, to imagine and define the future uses of the neighbourhood.

In a shared vision of the territory and its issues, Arte Charpentier proposed a “variable” minimum scenario:

• development of a landscaped space in the heart of the neighbourhood based on the existing landscape framework, consistent with the desire to enhance the backbone of the landscape;
• redevelopment of the rue de la Vallée – an East-West axis in the heart of the site – by the development of a “lens” square at the level of the Parvis equipment by repositioning the rue de la Vallée;
• development of an equipped North/South avenue;
• opening of the district on the Boulevard de Graville by the fragmentation of its facade to a pedestrian scale;
• connection of the district with its nearby urban environment by the extension of existing streets in order to compensate for the dysfunction of a break in the secondary network that generates a lack of porosity within the district itself;
• definition of a 15 to 20 m strip along Boulevard de Graville alongside the active facade. This space must contribute to the redevelopment of this axis, structuring the implantation of parking lots and partial plant cover by the development of a counter-alley, in order to make it less road-like and more urban.

BÉREULT VALLEY – GRAVILLE LA VALLÉE NORTH SECTOR

The Graville-la-Vallée North sector will benefit from the establishment of a new sports centre on the Boulevard de Graville, which will meet the needs of the Marcel Royer Stadium. The landscaped space in the heart of the district will be redeveloped, in connection with the sports centre, based on the existing landscape framework (linear Jean Dubuffet garden), and in coherence with the desire to enhance the backbone of the landscape.

The district will be linked to its nearby urban environment thanks to soft mobility connections in the extension of existing streets (rue Marcel Paul, rue Armand Agasse); this development will provide the porosity that had been lacking within the district. The Rue de la Vallée – an axis that penetrates East/West in the heart of the site – and the associated breathing spaces (small square near the high school, square near the future Sports Centre…) will be redeveloped.

A planning and development orientation will be implemented in the Charles Perrault block to integrate a public space at the neighbourhood level, a new offer in collective housing with a commercial ground level opening onto the new square, the reconfiguration of the Charles Perrault nursery school, and the repositioning of the Béreult community centre.

BÉREULT VALLEY – VIVIANI SECTOR

For the Viviani sector, a supply of approximately 150 dwellings will allow the district to play a specific role in the residential future of the territory; this attractive offer will be accessible to households with modest incomes.

A new road network on a district scale will allow for a better porosity of the South sector and open up the Tréfileries district by reconnecting its internal road system.

Viviani Square will be redesigned to give it back its function of public space at the heart of the district by reworking its uses and by developing social and cultural programmes that will allow for a more regular animation in the Salle Le Bourvellec (community centre, small shows, leisure activities, seminars…). An offer of family gardens around the Viviani square will be repositioned with the aim of animating this space in the heart of neighborhood and of greening the area.

Team

Contracting authority
– Contracting authority:  City of Le Havre

Project manager
– Architect-Urban planner: Arte Charpentier (Nicolas Simon)
– Landscaper: AUGUST
– Urban programming: Attitude Urbaine
– Design office/Roadways and networks: SOGETI Ingénierie

Specificities
– Address: Béreult Valley / Graville La Vallée 76600 Le Havre
– Surface area: 125 hectares (study perimeter) / 57 hectares (operational perimeter)
Image credits: Arte Charpentier Architectes