healing

Rihour
Current Condition:
Current Condition:
Rihour plaza currently has a
number of problems which
need redesigning. The red
zones indicates that auto-
mobile traffic in this area is
to heavy, and that there is to
many parking spaces con-
suming the valuable plaza
space. The yellow indicates
the metro stop which has
become dated and needs
remodeling as well as with
the stone monument in
front of the visitor center.

All together the plaza has a

very hard surfaced feel, which
is made worse due to the tall
walls and reduced sunlight.

-reduce auto traffic

-remove parking

-redesign metro stop

-address monument

-remove phonebooths

-remove carouselle

-redesign bike parking

Current Condition:

- lack of usable bicycle racks

- outdated and unused phone booths
Current Condition:

- out of place carouselle

- repaving needs
- dated building facades
Current Condition:

- unused space
- unkempt stonework
Case Study:
-Giants Garden
Case Study:
Analysis:
-Elements to Keep

movable planters

historic church/visitor center

Analysis:
After taking into consideration all the chaos, I decided to investigate other areas of Lille to gain a more holis-
tic understanding of the cities needs. I conducted site visits of parks, researched brown field areas of the town,
and rode the metro all around as a part of transportation research. Finally I came to understand that Lille
needed development in three areas:

- bicycling

- green spaces

- spirituality

In most of the European cities I have visited, they have had in a place what I would call a public bike share
system. Currently Lille does not have one though, and not only that but Lille has little in the way of bicycle
lanes. I figured implementing bicycle lanes and a new bike share system would be a great first step towards
a healthier city (France compared to its surrounding countries seams to lack bicycling enthusiasm). I also felt
something like a bike rental/repair shop was a necessary and fitting addition to the plaza.

The next category of green space is usually one that gets included in all urban planning decisions, but I want-
ed to especially emphasize this need for plaza rihour. This space is one of tall buildings and a small surfaces
area, which minimizes the amount of sunlight reaching the inhabitants. The best thing I found to remedy the
situation was an improved green space, possibly drawing inspiration from one of the other parks in town.

The final key to the puzzle I feel is spirituality. In most of my visits to other cities I have attended a vibrant
protestant church filled with excited Christians, but in Lille I have been unsuccessful in locating one. Europe for
the most part unfortunately is a spiritually dry place. cathedrals serve more tourists than church members. A
newly founded protestant church I believe may be the key to getting Lille back on track spiritually and some
sort of partnership with the new bicycling shop may be the spark a church would need to catch peoples atten-
tion and build a relationship with the public.

A redesign of Rihour plaza around these concepts would be a generous step towards healing the people of Lille.
Analysis:

Heart of Lille
Analysis:

Site: Plaza Rihour

Analysis:

Water
Analysis:

Green Space
Analysis:

Churches
Analysis:

Notable Destinations
Analysis:

Shopping Centers
Analysis:

Brown Fields
Analysis:

Metro Nodes
Analysis:

Proposed Bicycle Share Stations

Analysis:

Proposed Primary Bicycling Routes

Rihour Redesign

2.

1.

3.

Key
1. existing visitor center

4. 2. newspaper stand

5. 3. metro entrance

4. velille bike share

5. bicycling path

6. bicycling repair shop

8.
6. 7. church

7. 8. coffee shop/ grill

Design Elements:
After visiting the ‘giants garden’
in the euralille development,
I had the idea for large leaf
shaped benches. These benches
will help create a new freedom
for visitors as they are designed
with wheels so as to be easily
rearranged within the plaza.

Drawing inspiration from

the Lille metro symbol, I
designed the new emblem
for what I would like to
call the “velille” bike share
system. This name is a
merger of the french word
bicycle (velo) and the
name of the city.
Design Elements:

As the main theme, bicycling has been the focus of my

design. Above is a section sketch of how the redesigned
metro top will encourage bicycles to ride over it while
also allowing light to penetrate to below. The curving
planter in the top right has spaces for bike parking as
well as a metal mesh wall covered in vegetation.
Perspective:
Perspective:
The previous image showed the bicycle repair and
rental shop. Next door to it will be a newly launch-
ing protestant church. My hope is that a connection
between these two entities would produce interest in
the new church.
The image to the right shows the movable “leaf”
benches randomly placed in front of the historic visi-
tor center. My idea of a new bicycle sharing program
would be based here, with quality bicycles ready to
be checked out. Also here I designed a green wall
that grows taller to create intimate spaces in varying
locations.
Urban planning is not about one space, the right sun lighting effects or the number of visitors.
Rather, urban planning encompasses the holistic experience of a population as they engage in
metropolitan life. Plaza rihour is one piece to a giant puzzle that must be carefully and com-
pletely analyzed. The whole can be no greater than the parts which comprise it, but when deli-
cately woven together create a canvas that goes far beyond the individual elements themselves.

Top ten things I learned about urban design this semester:

1. when redesigning a site, not all of the spaces must be altered

2. there is a larger context that should inform how minor/individual space decisions are made

3. the history of a space/city can be the greatest informer of future design decisions

4. water features seem to make a space appear cleanly and inviting

5. a space must be designed with multiple functions in mind (i.e. nighttime, festivals)

6. seating in a public space is essential and rarely overdone

7. political and economic barriers create the most resistances to a developments progress

8. short term and long term goals are equally important and necessary

9. a garbage man can empty trash bins, or sweep up garbage (provide trash bins!)

10. planning a city works best in a bottom up format

Andrew Berggren Spring 2011 Professor Paul Gleye Lille, France