The En Verdan site is intended to be an artisanal zone. Ideally connected to the road network and close to the city, the site naturally fulfils this mission. However, it appears that this will not be enough to maintain its attractiveness. Urban renovations in artisanal areas must combine state-of-the-art industry, user comfort, local industrial ecology and preserve their strategic position for city centre logistics.

We are convinced that the En Verdan site can thus have its own attractiveness, its urbanity, act as an attractor for existing artisanal zones and as a place of activity for housing to the south of the site. The comfort and quality of life of site users will only be enhanced.

The site, at the interface of different activities, must allow for increased porosity between activities, spaces and people. The volumes must allow the establishment of small and large companies and promote the diversity of the economic fabric. It is also necessary to provide formal and informal places where people can meet, exchange and create. Public spaces, where it must be easy to move around on foot or in soft mobility on the site. The car, unlike existing artisanal zones, must be given second place. Public spaces are not controlled by the route of the car.

Our proposal for this site is to qualify it with three strong characteristics: the canal embankment, the urban alley and a phyto-purification area. It is the public spaces and their quality that define the site, give it its character and interest.

Offering quality of life to users has many advantages. If it is possible to have a coffee in the morning on arrival, to find a bakery for the morning break, a snack bar or restaurant at noon and even a bar for an drink, then users are in a space with high added value that can forge a link with the existing district. By offering diversity, visibility and encounters, it is all the dynamism of the area that is favoured.