A former industrial park constructed in 1907 and originally used as a shipping and customs complex is set to undergo a transformation into a sustainable eco-neighborhood covering 135,000-sm.
A little less than one-third of this space consists of the 40,000-sm Gare Maritime (Marine Terminal). The eco-neighborhood’s masterplan calls for this building to be redeveloped into an eco-campus for work and relaxation, according to Arch Daily. The Gare Maritime’s architecture is representative of the industrial era in which it was created; an aesthetic that will be maintained throughout the redevelopment.
The structure comprises five parallel cast iron and glass “vessels” that, under the new development, will each host their own architectural identities. However, the contemporary interventions that will be added to the structure’s five spaces will all be detached from the original building, creating a contrast with the industrial wrought iron of the existing structure and the solid wood and cross-laminated timber of the additions.
The five spaces within the Gare Maritime will combine to create a mixed-use campus with offices, sports and leisure spaces, retail, bars, restaurants, and greenhouses. A public park and canal will also be brought inside the terminal.
The Gare Maritime isn’t most striking component of Vincent Callebaut Architectures’ design, however. Just to the north of the Gare Maritime are three vertical forests, containing a total of 85,000 sm of multiple-scale housing. The vertical forests have a slope reminiscent of a ski jump, varying between 24 and 100 meters in height. These Vertical Forests are covered with trees and gardens from top to bottom. Each building will have a large roof containing fruit and vegetable balconies and solar panels.
The Vertical Forests and the Gare Maritame will be connected by a large marsh pond, a bar and restaurant created from a former fish and oil covered market, and what the architects are calling a giant lilypad, which exists within the marsh pond and provides space for events, exhibits, and an open-air auditorium.
In total, 85,000 sm will be used for housing with the remaining 50,000 sm used for office, retail, and leisure.
Rendering courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures.
Rendering courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures.
Rendering courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures.
Rendering courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures.
Rendering courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures.
Rendering courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures.
Rendering courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures.
Rendering courtesy of Vincent Callebaut Architectures.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Apr 8, 2024
Boston’s plans to hold back rising seawater stall amid real estate slowdown
Boston has placed significant aspects of its plan to protect the city from rising sea levels on the actions of private developers. Amid a post-Covid commercial development slump, though, efforts to build protective infrastructure have stalled.
Sustainability | Apr 8, 2024
3 sustainable design decisions to make early
In her experience as an architect, Megan Valentine AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, WELL AP, Fitwel, Director of Sustainability, KTGY has found three impactful sustainable design decisions: site selection, massing and orientation, and proper window-to-wall ratios.
Sustainability | Apr 4, 2024
Skanska Elevates Commitment to Sustainability
Skanska, a global leader in sustainable building, has restructured its Sustainability Team to better serve client and company goals. Co-led by Steve Clem and Myrrh Caplan, who together bring decades of experience, the team will allow Skanska to continue to set the bar for the industry.
Mixed-Use | Apr 4, 2024
Sustainable mixed-use districts: Crafting urban communities
As a part of the revitalization of a Seattle neighborhood, Graphite Design Group designed a sustainable mixed-use community that exemplifies resource conversation, transportation synergies, and long-term flexibility.
Sustainability | Mar 29, 2024
Demystifying carbon offsets vs direct reductions
Chris Forney, Principal, Brightworks Sustainability, and Rob Atkinson, Senior Project Manager, IA Interior Architects, share the misconceptions about carbon offsets and identify opportunities for realizing a carbon-neutral building portfolio.
Sustainability | Mar 21, 2024
World’s first TRUE-certified building project completed in California
GENESIS Marina, an expansive laboratory and office campus in Brisbane, Calif., is the world’s first Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE)-certified construction endeavor. The certification recognizes projects that achieve outstanding levels of resource efficiency through waste reduction, reuse, and recycling practices.
Codes and Standards | Mar 18, 2024
New urban stormwater policies treat rainwater as a resource
U.S. cities are revamping how they handle stormwater to reduce flooding and capture rainfall and recharge aquifers. New policies reflect a change in mindset from treating stormwater as a nuisance to be quickly diverted away to capturing it as a resource.
Sustainability | Mar 13, 2024
Trends to watch shaping the future of ESG
Gensler’s Climate Action & Sustainability Services Leaders Anthony Brower, Juliette Morgan, and Kirsten Ritchie discuss trends shaping the future of environmental, social, and governance (ESG).
Sustainability | Feb 26, 2024
GBBN's Inflation Reduction Act Calculator goes live
GBBN has publicly released its IRA Calculator, a tool that helps you understand funding opportunities in the IRA for sustainable design.
MFPRO+ News | Feb 15, 2024
Nine states pledge to transition to heat pumps for residential HVAC and water heating
Nine states have signed a joint agreement to accelerate the transition to residential building electrification by significantly expanding heat pump sales to meet heating, cooling, and water heating demand. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by directors of environmental agencies from California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island.