Breaking News: Grenoble’s Esplanade Site Embarks on Transformation into Major Urban Park
The Esplanade site in Grenoble, covering a vast 33,538 m², is entering its critical realization phase. This historic site, created as a military shooting range at the end of the 16th century, has been declared the northern entrance to the city, located at the foot of the Massif de la Chartreuse and the Fort de la Bastille.
Redefining Urban Spaces
The primary aim is to transform this space, currently dedicated to parking with 360 spaces, into a large urban park. This initiative will see the removal of parking to make way for a scenic urban park that will welcome the annual branch fair and numerous events. The boulevard with its plane trees, the large esplanade, and the smaller esplanade with the bowling alley, parking lots, and a ring of trees are part of the transformation.
Sustainable Design and Development
The project is overseen by a contracting co-master by the city and Grenoble Alpes Métropole, with the design conducted by the Beaep office. The major changes include land requalification, with most of the bitumen-covered surface being replaced with grass and stabilized ground. A light concrete walkway is planned around the green spaces to minimize heat generation. For the boulevard trees, an additional 2,400 m² of full soil ground will be dedicated to plant massifs.
Rainwater Management
A central element of this project is the efficient management of rainwater. A mini-fossile system with buried works and slopes will be implemented to handle a 30-year return of rain. On the boulevard, half of the rainwater will be infiltrated into the plant beds and the other half into lost wells. Residual flows will be directed to the exhaure network. Similarly, the large esplanade and the forecourt for the bowls will use plastic tanks and pebble pockets to collect water.
The estimated cost of this transformation is €9.2 million, with the project expected to conclude by the end of 2027. This marks the first stage of a larger urban project aiming to redesign the city’s entrance and create new housing solutions.
Historic Significance
Grenoble’s Esplanade has historically played a strategic role as the northern entrance to the city. Its transformation from a military site to a bustling urban park aligns with the city’s evolving identity and priorities. This move to sustainable urban development is an example of how historic sites can be reimagined for modern purposes while preserving their cultural significance.
The transformation of the Esplanade site into a major urban park is not just a step towards greener urban living but a testament to sustainable urban development that binds history with future sustainability goals.
Stay tuned to archyde.com for more updates on this transformative project and other breaking news. Join the conversation and tell us what you think about Grenoble’s bold new vision.