MVRDV wins with la grande mosaique, a plan to transform caen

‘la grande mosaique’ by MVRDV, presqu’ile de caen, normandy, franceall images courtesy of MVRDV

international firm MVRDV has just won a competition to transform port-side area of caen presquile in normandy. the proposal, entitled ‘la grand mosaique’, calls for a collection of gardens that respects the existing architecture while creating a lasting transformative effect on the surrounding areas of mondeville and hérouville saint clair.. the urban strategy consists of a mobility plan that accommodates ‘soft traffic’, with a network of pedestrian bridges and a re-reconstructed city center so as to correct the hasty post-world war II restructuring programs.

while factories turn into gardens, small-scale interventions will result in a mosaic of greenery and veritable ecosystems that will reconnect the historic area to the sea. the site is not far from the d-day beaches and will incorporate existing projects by OMA as well as BE hauvette and pierre champenois; a multimedia library and a regional high court respectively. the fresh view on urbanism that the project proposes is distinct in part because of a the attention of the human scale to the landscape. 

site plan

clear site view if the resulting ‘mosaic’ of small scale interventions that turn ruins into gardens

start of the site strategy

middle of the site strategy

end of the site strategy

view of the existing waterside factory

‘after’ view of the inserted rolling greenscapes

‘before’ view of the riverbank

‘after’ view shows increased mobility and connection to the river

an existing bridge is made more walkable and connective