The Rouen Normandy Metropolis wins the gold medal for the Seine Cathedral sector as part of the Victoires du Paysage 2024.
The Victoires du Paysage is a national competition which rewards public project owners, companies and individuals for developments
landscaped. This competition is an initiative of VALHOR, the French Interprofession of horticulture, floristry and landscaping. The 9th edition of Victoires was held this week. The Rouen Normandy Metropolis was awarded the gold medal in the heritage category for its Cœur de Métropole – Seine & Cathedral Sector project. A distinction which highlights the quality of the requalification and renaturation proposed in this sector, in the heart of the historic center of Rouen, in a district destroyed by the bombings of the Second World War and rebuilt after the war in a very mineral manner.
For Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, Mayor of Rouen, President of the Rouen Normandy Metropolis, Nicolas Zuili, Deputy Mayor in charge of the Right Bank of Rouen and Jean-Michel Bérégovoy, Deputy Mayor in charge in particular of the resilient city, the environment and energy transition : « This award in the heritage category recalls what was at the heart of this project: creating modern living spaces, islands of freshness, improving the living environment of users, while enhancing the historic monuments which give the city its character. It’s a success! This Rouen neighborhood is now greener and much more accessible on foot. This is a big gain in attractiveness and a step towards a greener and healthier city. »
Designed to strengthen the unwavering link between Notre-Dame de Rouen Cathedral and the Seine, this phase of the Heart of the Metropolis project lasted from 2017 to 2020. The Heart of the Metropolis Project was initiated by the former Mayor and Presidents of the Metropolis Yvon Robert and Frédéric Sanchez. The total project had a budget of 9 million euros, to result in a renatured city center, capable of combating heat islands and giving pride of place to pedestrian spaces. Essential components in a very touristic and commercial city center, having suffered partly from the bombings of the Second World War and a very mineral post-war reconstruction.
The Seine Cathedral project made it possible to reclassify the surroundings of major monuments in the city of Rouen (Cathedral, Saint-Maclou Church, Aître Saint-Maclou, Fierté Saint Romain, etc.). Offering new points of view on the architectural heritage of the district, the project highlights the pedestrian connections with the river (rue Grand-Pont) while improving the living environment in the heart of the district. To the south of the Cathedral square, large steps have been created to connect it to the café terraces, which now benefit from a breathtaking view of the historic monument and ideal pedestrian and PRM accessibility.
Place de la Calende, adjoining the Cathedral, is transformed to accommodate several shaded terraces to the south of the Cathedral. This reclassified square is punctuated with bush trees, restaurant tables and cafes, as well as the events of a carousel, in order to make it a family and friendly place to live. An ideal stop during a day exploring the many shops in the area!
The installation of a plant network accompanies the route of rue des Carmes, bringing shade and coolness to a city center plagued by heat islands. The project management was carried out by the Atelier Villes et Paysage/Egis Ville/Les Éclaireurs/Marie Caron/Péna Paysage group, which also submitted the candidacy for the Victoires du Paysage 2024.
