Chandigarh Workshop on Historic Urban Landscape Management December 2007 Brigitte Bariol ( Epures urban planning public

1. Le Corbusier’s heritage in Firminy urban management Chandigarh Workshop on Historic Urban Landscape Management December 2007 Brigitte Bariol ( Epures urban planning public agency of Saint-Etienne / Firminy urban area)

2. summary • Firminy : Le Corbusier’s heritage and urban management • institutions and history • the buildings • urban project and heritage management • Saint-Etienne Métropole : territorial strategy based upon heritage of industry and modernity • heritage strategyin town planning • culture tourism and economic development

3. Firminy Le Corbusier’s heritage

4. Firminy and Saint-Etienne Metropole Territory Industrial territory from 19th and 20th centuries with a rural hinterland Local Authorities Firminy Community 20,000 inhabitants Saint-Etienne Metropole urban area 400,000 inhabitants Lyon St-Etienne metropolitan area 3,000,000 inhabitants Rhône-Alpes Région 6,000,000 inhabitants Epures, urban planning public agency of the urban area (working with institutional partners on planning and territorial development issues)

5. Firminy’s History Firminy is the story of the meeting of two men: Le Corbusier and Eugène Claudius Petit, French Minister of reconstruction and Mayor of Firminy (1953– 1965) © FLC

6. Firminy’s History The most important Le Corbusier’s works collection in Europe

7. Firminy’s History Civic center : - Cultural Center (Maison de la Culture) - Sports Stadium - Saint-Pierre’s Church 1 Dwelling Unit(Unité d’Habitation ) Edifices for human main functions : living, spirit ad body culture, sacred things Firminy-Vert : 4,000 inhabitants district designed from the Charter of Athens (CIAM) principles by four young town planners

8. Firminy’s History

9. Firminy’s History

10. Le Corbusier’s buildings

11. The Maison de la Culture (Cultural Center) • 1954 Le Corbusier’s project for a Cultural Center • Inauguration of the Cultural Center by Le Corbusier • Listed as historical monument • The Cultural Center is still used as a concert hall, theater, auditorium, dance and plastic arts space, music school, as well as for exhibits and congresses… • 2007 Project to run a section into tourist informationspaces © FLC © FLC © FLC

12. The sports Stadium • 1954 Le Corbusier’s project for a sports Stadium in front of the Cultural Center • 1968 Inauguration of the Stadium • The Stadium still operates (4000 seats) © FLC

13. Saint-Pierre Church • 1961 Le Corbusier started the project for a catholic church • Le Corbusier died • 1970’s Beginning of the construction • The concrete basis is built • Financial problems stopped the construction • Subscription attempted to fund the church completion • 1996 The unachieved church is listed as Historical Monument © FLC

14. Saint-Pierre Church • 2001 New municipal team elected in Firminy • Both Firminy community and Saint-Etienne Metropole urban district decided to lead a developmentproject based upon Le Corbusier’ heritage • 2002 Saint-Etienne Metropole financed the church’s completion, supported by the French government, Europe and all local authorities • Jose Oubrerie, architect of Le Corbusier’s studio was nominated architect

15. Saint-Pierre Church • Saint-Pierre church’s inauguration • The edifice gathers • upper level : the church • ground level : permanent exhibit for the Saint-Etienne Modern Art Museum (Le Corbusier’s paintings, furniture and buildings models)

16. The Dwelling Unit(Unité d’Habitation) • 1959 Le Corbusier’s project for 3 Dwelling Unit at Firminy • 1967 The Dwelling Unit’s opening • a vertical garden-city of 400 apartments for underprivileged people and a school on the roof • 1983 Half of the apartments were vacant and the school was closed. Inhabitants mobilized to preserve the unit • 1984 Listed as Historical monument

17. The Dwelling Unit(Unité d’Habitation)

18. The Dwelling Unit(Unité d’Habitation) • 2003 Project for Dwelling Unit’s renovation • a new original program • Rental dwellings (60%), current renters can buy their apartments at a low price, some apartments are sold to private investors, hotel rooms are reserved for tourists, the school on the roof is used for exhibits

19. Firminy Urban Project and Management

20. The application to UNESCO’s List Inscription • Local authorities decided to prepare a candidacy to UNESCO World Heritage with help of Roger Aujame, architect who worked with Le Corbusier and UNESCO • The main ideas was to recognize and value the architectural heritage of Le Corbusier and Firminy Vert as a living district implementing the Athens Charter ideas

21. UNESCO’s List Inscription application

22. ZPPAUP Firminy Vert Heritage Management Plan

23. Firminy Master Plan

24. Saint-Etienne Métropole territorial strategy based on industrial and modernity heritage

25. Saint-Etienne Métropole Heritage Management Saint-Etienne urban area : rich industrial and modern heritage of 19th and 20thcentury factories, housing buildings… A threatened heritage with many abandoned industrial zones and demolished building Territorial development plan for regeneration and new urban developments The occasion to launch an heritage management system - Knowledge (inventories and studies) - Projects of regeneration - Education ( consulting)

26. Saint-Etienne Métropole Heritage Management Localization of exceptional sites, remarkable sites, and sites to monitor

27. Saint-Etienne Métropole Heritage Management Heritage knowledge: Marking and description of buildings and sites on a Geographical Information System (GIS) • Heritage interest • Historical interest • Architectural interest • Landscape interest • Urban interest • Symbolic interest • Usage interest • Built-up Condition • Durability/Stability • Reuse potential Critères d’évaluation

28. Saint-Etienne Métropole Heritage Management For example: Site offering a high heritage interest and restoration potential, but in bad condition and therefore a demolition risk Duralex Glass-works Rive de Gier

29. Saint-Etienne Métropole urban and economic strategy Economic strategy based upon research in Design and creative technolgies Urban projects on industrial ancient site’s reconversion Saint-Etienne Design Center built in ancient munition factory Mining Museum and park built in the ancient mine shaft

30. Culture and Tourism Every year : 100,000 visitors in Firminy Saint-Etienne Metropole’s tourism strategy: Firminy an emblematic tourist site The promotion of the urban area as a tourist place based upon modernity, industrial heritage and design - Le Corbusier in Firminy - Museums in Saint-Etienne - Cultural events (design exhibits, urban festival...)

31. Culture and Tourism Lyon / Saint-Etienne metropolitan area : a network of modern heritage : “utopias made real” Famous 20th century architects’ works - Le Corbusier’s work at Firminy and La Tourette - Tony Garnier’s works at Lyon

32. conclusion Integrated policies of heritage, urban planning, culture and tourism Partnership of all local authorities and the french governement for the project success: Firminy community, Saint-Etienne Metropole district, Rhone Alpes Region

33. Firminy and Chandigarh Firminy and Chandigarh Two main Le Corbusier heritage’s sitesin the world Monumental heritage but also “living cities” who need to both preserve the spirit of the Charter of Athens heritage and to change with social economic and urban evolutions (way of life, housing, sustainable development, …) With unesco ‘s inscription the opportunity of cooperation on the same issues