Launched in June 2010, Bordeaux [Re]Centres is an ambitious development programme that combines economic, social and ecological goals. The programme is focused on improving housing, revitalizing the local economy, and (re-)creating public spaces in line with changing needs of residents. With the old centre of Bordeaux being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as an inhabited historic city with an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, the programme aims to ensure a vibrant and lively historic centre, while developing in an environmentally sustainable manner.
[Re]Centres Bordeaux is focused on the historic centre of Bordeaux. The area covered by the project spans 148 hectares and several neighbourhoods in the old centre of the city. Since 2007, this part of the city has had a UNESCO World Heritage status under the name Port de la Lune (Port of the Moon), owing this name to the curve of the river Garonne that has the shape of a crescent moon. The area has a long history, with over 2.000 years of cultural development and an exceptional architectural ensemble. Due to its port, Bordeaux has traditionally been a city of commerce and trade. Nowadays, it is the second city in France (after Paris) in regards to protected heritage buildings. The most significant monumental structures date from the 18th century and have a neo-classical building style. In the 1990s the city centre had become degraded and unattractive to residents, businesses and tourists alike. [1;2;6]
In line with the regeneration effort going on since the early 2000s, [Re]Centres Bordeaux was initiated in 2010. The goal of the programme was to develop a sustainable urban project for a vibrant historic living city. To achieve this, the initiative has focused on improving the living conditions of citizens by investing in living accommodation, improving public facilities and upgrading the public space. Under the programme, new social housing has been created, as well as rental accommodation with a rent-cap and collective living accommodations. Sustainability and energy efficiency have been important themes in the renovation and development of living accommodation. Moreover, together with citizens, underutilized spaces throughout the city centre have been mapped and provided with a renewed function. Pedestrian and bicycle routes have been improved to stimulate sustainable mobility and reveal new points of view on historical sites. Furthermore, new green spaces have been added to the public realm, public transportation has been improved and sports facilities have been updated. Participative cultural events and the upgraded public space stimulate socializing and integration among citizens. As part of the programme, financial aid has been offered to those who wished to renovate their own homes, as well as a rehousing system for vulnerable citizens.
Overall, a coordinated set of interventions has been executed to improve the livability of the historic city centre, while stimulating sustainable practices. [1;3;4] Currently, the partnership agreement under which [Re]Centres Bordeaux was developed and implemented has ended. In 2021, minor actions remain to be completed (e.g. the completion of a small number of social housing units, upgrading public space on a limited number of streets and the creation of a business hotel). [4]
The [Re]Centres Bordeaux project brings together a few institutional and professional partners around the city of Bordeaux, including the municipal authority, Bordeaux Métropole, the State, the National Agency for Housing Improvement and the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (a French public sector financial institution), along with 4 architecture and urban planning agencies: ANMA and Canal (from Paris) and M75 and Pepito (from Bordeaux). Together they designed, financed and validated the project. [3] In 2011, these partners signed a 7-year partnership agreement, which was extended for an additional 3 years in 2018. [4] Consultation meetings and participative events were organised to include citizens in the development of the plans. [2;4].
[Re]Centres Bordeaux is part of The National Program for the Requalification of Old Degraded Neighborhoods (PNRQAD). This programme, financed by the French State and the French Agency for Urban Renovation, is aimed at regenerating degraded neighbourhoods of old city centres, with a specific focus on improving substandard housing. Funding received through this programme is complemented by funding from both the City of Bordeaux and Bordeaux Métropole.
In total, the partnership agreement covers a budget of € 42.000.000 (excluding tax), which has been spent on the creation of public social housing (53%), the redevelopment of public space (23%), the (re-)creation of public facilities (15%), stimulating economic activities (4%) and engineering (5%). [4;5]
Federica Appendino (2017), IOP, Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 245 062002, available on doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/245/6/062002, accessed on 11/01/2022
Babalis, D. (2019) Pocket Parks for Changing times and Uncertainties. In Urban heritage in times of uncertainty: Complexity, Sensitivity and Protection. Italy: Altralinea, pp. 14 -29
Bordeaux Re Centres – Centre historique (n.d.) Site officiel de la ville de Bordeaux, www.bordeaux.fr/pgPresStand8.psml?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pgPresStand8&classofcontent=presentationStandard&id=63940, accessed on 18/11/2021
Bordeaux [Re]Centres (2020) Bordeaux Métropole official website. Retrieved from www.bordeaux-metropole.fr/Grands-projets/Projets-d-amenagements/Renouvellement-urbain-des-quartiers/Bordeaux-Re-Centres, on 18/11/2021.
Le Programme National de Requalification des Quartiers Anciens Dégradés (PNRQAD) / Rénovation Urbaine (2017, April 6) Ministère de l’Intérieur Français. Retrieved from www.nord.gouv.fr/Politiques-publiques/Solidarite-hebergement-logement-politique-de-la-ville-et-renovation-urbaine/Renovation-Urbaine/Le-Programme-National-de-Requalification-des-Quartiers-Anciens-Degrades-PNRQAD, on 18/11/2021.
UNESCO World Heritage Convention: Bordeaux – Port of the Moon, available on whc.unesco.org/en/list/1256/, accessed on 15/12/2021.