Outlook 2025 (7/7). After many twists and turns, the fate of the Navarre building, called “Banana” because of its curvilinear shape, will indeed be demolished this year. A project which will begin in mid-February and should last between 12 and 18 months.
Commissioned in May 1957, the Navarre building is in its final months. Indeed, after many twists and turns, its demolition was approved by the municipal council in September 2023, putting an end to years of procrastination over the future of this emblematic building of 60 apartments. Indeed, at the beginning of the 2000s, Hamaris wanted to rehabilitate the Banana but the revision of the City's Protection and Development Plan (PSMV), in 2008, had stopped this project in its tracks and the social landlord could only launch security work. An operation which allowed La Banane to save its skin until June 2018 when its demolition seemed inevitable.
But, during the municipal council meeting of September 29, 2022, Anne Cardinal, mayor of Langres, suggested that the building could be saved (read daily jhm of October 19, 2022). A hope born from the request of Caroline Marlot, then Architect of Buildings of France (ABF), to think about an alternative. But, with the change of ABF, a contrary opinion is formulated and the green light is given to destroy the building. But we will still have to wait for this advice in September 2023 and the prefectural authorization to take action. After preliminary studies for this demolition and the selection of the company which will be responsible for this heavy project, the work will have to begin in mid-February with a site preparation and pre-cleaning phase which should last three and a half months.
Net position at the start of 2026
Once this first step has been completed, the entrances will be confined, the scaffolding will be installed and the asbestos will be completely removed. An important step which will take no less than five and a half months and for which a new process will be used. “This involves the installation of thermo-covered scaffolding, a first for Hamaris. In fact, asbestos removal from the facade (exterior cladding) must be carried out. A true waterproof envelope, the thermo-covered scaffolding creates a protective barrier which prevents the dispersion of potentially dangerous asbestos particles into the atmosphere,” explains Hamaris.
It is therefore not until mid-November that the removal of the entrance elements should begin. This phase should take another month and a half and it will be followed by the actual demolition of the building which will therefore take place at the beginning of 2026. A deconstruction which should be done by chipping away at the building. Once the Banana disappears, all that will remain is the restoration of the land belonging to Hamaris. It remains to be seen what will happen to the site…
Patricia Charmelot
