Euroméditerranée is building the sustainable Mediterranean city!
The sustainable Mediterranean city of the future is a model which takes the special geographical, climatological and cultural features of the Mediterranean into account. It comes from the history of the city, the uniqueness of its inhabitants and innovations which are designing the future. It is sustainable, connected and smart.
The Euroméditerranée Urban Development Agency would like to make Aix-Marseille Provence the spearhead of a model applicable to the cities and towns of Southern Europe and of the Mediterranean basin.
Thassalia sea water loop
THASSALIA supplies the buildings with hot and cold water via a network of 4 tubes. The hot and cold energies are produced in the plant from sea water pumped from a depth of 7 m, using thermorefrigerating pumps and high energy-efficient refrigerated units. The building is connected to the network via a simple substation.
The Thassalia network in figures
- 500,000 m² of buildings supplied by 2020.
- 3 kilometres of network.
- Installed capacity of 19 cold megawatts (cold production).
- and of 19 hot megawatts (heat production).
- 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
- 65% reduction in water consumption.
Massiléo sea water loop
The Massiléo network uses a warm water loop which connects the sea water energy collection plant in the port of Marseilles to the heat pumps installed in building basements. The heat pumps raise or lower the water temperature in the loop in order to produce heating, air conditioning and domestic hot water supply. Other than using sea water as source of energy, Massileo is innovating by using the buildings to produce energy. In effect, the warm water loop transfers thermal energy between buildings so no energy is wasted. The heat given off by the air conditioning in offices can be reused for example to produce hot water for housing, and vice versa.
The Massiléo network in figures
- 75% renewable energies.
- 80% reduction in CO² emissions compared to a solution using fossil fuels.
- 21 megawatts hot and cold production capacity (2.5 of which for Smartseille).
- 4 kWh hot or cold redelivered for 1kWh electricity used.
Smartseille demonstrator neighbourhood
A Mediterranean Ecocity laboratory
Smartseille was the first development project sponsored by Euroméditerranée and carried out by Eiffage on extension of the operation of national interest. This 58,000 m2 demonstrator neighbourhood is the fruit of 7 years of forward-planning on the Mediterranean Ecocity in partnership with Eiffage’s R&D laboratory Phosphore®. Located in the north of Marseilles near the seafront, an experimental sustainable housing model is spread out over 2.7 hectares, and it is believed to be reproducible to the scale of the ONI.
Timeline:
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Smartseille in figures:
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Make a note | Smartseille, is...
- A laboratory of French know-how in terms of sustainable urban development.
- Bioclimatic architecture using low carbon concrete and biosourced construction materials.
- Modular housing, shared studios and intergenerational residences.
- Local services: electric car sharing, shared car parking, concierge services.
- Digital services: optic fibre only wifi and internet network, free wifi in public areas, an e-services platform for residents.
- Protected Mediterranean biodiversity: retaining green roof, urban agriculture, collective gardens.
- A heating and cooling system for buildings that is sustainable and economical: the sea water loop.
Les Fabriques ecodistrict
Temporary use to restore district life to its rightful place.
Les Fabriques ecodistrict is rolled out following on from Smartseille near to the villages les Crottes and la Cabucelle. It is served by the A55 and A7 motorways and is located near to the Gèze multimodal hub, making it the northern gateway to Marseilles main town centre. By its geographical location, it has remarkable visibility over the port of Marseilles. The project to transform this district deserted by residents into the 14-hectare Mediterranean ecodistrict is operated by the Linkcity & UrbanEra® group. It takes into account the special historical features of an area deeply marked by the activity of the Marseilles flea market, old artisan factories and local shops.
Timeline:
2015: Launch for the call for expressions of interest by Euroméditerranée and designation of the successful tenderers Linkcity & UrbanEra.
2017: Full design submission.
2018: Arrival of "makers" on ICI Marseille and opening of the Maison du projet.
2020: Start of works.
2022: Arrival of the first residents.
Parc Bougainville
A "green lung" at the heart of the Ecocity
Located in the south of the Aygalades vale, geographically limited by the boulevard Lesseps and the boulevard de Briançon, the Parc Bougainville covers an area of 4 hectares, right in the middle of the ONI extension. It is the first step of the major project for the ecological restoration of a significantly degraded industrial site which spreads right along the Aygalades river (over 14 hectares). This park’s primary ambition is to entirely create a quality public space to make up for the lack of parkland in the districts in the north of Marseilles.
The foundation stone of the future metropolitan park of the Aygalades
The design of Parc Bougainville had to take the many constraints of the existing site into account. The underground and river structures today canalised, land pollution or even the difference in level between the two ends of the project. Once in place, this “green lung” will offer neighbouring districts new leisure time and environmental recreation places for its residents and users. With the cost of the works estimated at 12.5 million Euros, the planning studies started in 2017 should make it possible to begin a first phase of the works from 2020, with delivery of Parc Bougainville in 2023. Bougainville is the starting point for a wider project, the creation of the Parc des Aygalades over 10 hectares, along the bed of the “restored” river of the same name. This park will be considered to be the green backbone of the Ecocity, linking the town centre to the doorway of the northern districts of Marseilles. It will also play the role of a natural hydraulic and thermal regulation system for the town, by preventing flooding and by controlling the urban heat island within the Ecocity.
Parc Bougainville in figures:
- 4 hectares of parkland, including 1 planted hectare of shrubby beds, 8,700 m² laid to lawn and 700 trees planted in open ground.
- 38 million Euros investment (of which 12.5 million Euros allocated to planning works)
- 2017 - 2019: Studies, land control, and site clean up, demolition and delivery
- 2020 - 2023: Development works
A project based on 3 areas:
Ecology: site ecological restoration while defining a landscaping strategy and a new relationship with water (river).
Sports: promotion of collective sports and sport, for all ages.
Events: development of places for hosting events (installation of an open-air dance hall, shaded area and terraces for concerts, social centres, flower associations, educational workshops, nature centre, etc.)
Parc de la Porte d'Aix
UAn authentic part of nature at the heart of Marseille
The Parc de la Porte d’Aix aims to provide the Saint-Charles district with a fully pedestrianised, public parkland of more than one hectare, closed at night and guarded by day. This development, the works for which will begin in 2019, replaces a motorway roundabout in the centre of which an embankment with few trees and very difficult to maintain was the only parkland there.
One hectare of greenery suited to the Mediterranean climate
During the studies conducted by Euroméditerranée in partnership with the landscaping company from Alsace, Alfred Peter, the project’s successful tenderer, the partners and the residents, the project took shape and saw the surface area of the planted areas significantly increase. In particular it was decided that the Turenne west embankment, with around fifty adult trees would be kept and the artificial lawn initially planned would be withdrawn in favour of natural lawns and trees.
The development work which started in June 2017 is currently being completed. Once completed, the Parc de la Porte d’Aix will welcome 72% open parkland and 28% mineral surfaces (multisports fields, riprap and pedestrian areas) over its 11,000m². Added to that is 8,000 m² of planted areas on the future slope of Aix Marseilles University. The plantations are completely compatible with the Mediterranean climate and are inspired by the natural landscapes in the region, even in the choice of 100 trees already planted and 300 others remaining to be planted. This authentic part of nature in the very heart of the town is an integral part of the Euroméditerranée global strategy aiming for highly developed urban biodiversity to reduce the Marseilles heat island.
A new system for controlling the park’s water use
In-depth discussions took place as to management of the park, especially for minimising water use during maintenance. An innovative solution, "UrbaSense", is used to control and adjust tree watering by tensiometry. This technology controls soil humidity daily and determines the quantity of water available for plants for more effective root anchoring. It is currently being tested on around ten plantations.
Le parc de la Porte d'Aix in figures
- 1 hectare
- 72% of parkland
- 3.2 million Euros investment out of the €11M for the “coeur de ZAC” operation
- Almost 400 new trees planted on open land
