The canton of Neuchatel, in collaboration with Europan, organized an international workshop to calls to identify strategies for urban expansion of the three main cities of Canton (Neuchatel, La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle) based on three different approaches: infrastructure, density and nature. The work, made with Pieter D’Haeseleer and Geert De Groote, has produced The Strip: a framework for densification of La Chaux-de-Fonds, which focused on the area between the main Avenue and the rail road, just a strip. The project involves the construction of a park in the city center (Central Park) and an area of expansion within the industry disposed of Scierie des Esplatures next to the future cultural center of Les Abattoirs.
step 0. existing strip
step 1. new soft infrastructure: train-tram + cycle-paths
step 2. green areas: Central Park close to the city-center and green areas at Scierie des Esplatures
step 3. residential building in Central Park
step 4. public plinthes at Scierie (the new district): commerce + working spaces
step 5. residential buildings on top at Scierie
step 6. the strip as a sistema between La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle
The results of the workshop were discussed with representatives of Municipalities, the Scientific Committee of Europan and some outside observers in three open debates in the town of Neuchatel in conjunction with the Forum Europan 10.
DATA
The Strip is a workshop project.
Client are the Canton of Neuchatel and Europan.
Pieter D’haeseleer and Geert De Groote collaborated with us.