Urban Design
ANTIGONE, Montpellier, France
The Antigone project was conceived when the newly-elected Montpellier municipal council determined it should develop a parcel of some twenty hectares of land near the city centre.
This town planning sought to develop a new district that would provide for the balanced eastward expansion of the rapidly growing city. The project includes streets, squares, green zones, housing, shops, schools, sporting, cultural and administrative facilities.
My contribution to the design proposal was to link the historical centre to the river Lez by introducing a large urban gesture, a crescent, and landscaping the river’s embankments. I later developed a housing typology and prepared the final master plan.
Credits
Taller de Arquitectura Ricardo Bofill
CORINNE GIRARD YOUNG Design Team, Final rendering
Urban Design
STATE RAIL AUTHORITY (SRA dissolved in 2003) of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
The stately sandstone Sydney Central Station occupies a prominent place in the City. The competition by invitation asked to take advantage of the “land in the air” over the rail road tracks to create a new urban vibrant precinct.
The proposal aims at defining the edge of an existing street with new mixed use buildings while opening a vista to an existing heritage building. An overpass is proposed to link the disjointed neighbourhoods on either side of the tracks. The overpass springs from a proposed new square. The proposed buildings, with retail on the ground floor, create a sense of place.
Credits
PTW Architects, Sydney, Australia
CORINNE GIRARD YOUNG Design architect
Urban Design
RIO NUEVO, Tucson Arizona, United States
A developer requested a feasibility study to develop the shores of the Rio Nuevo and for the proposal to be linked to down town Tucson.
The river’s refreshing environment becomes the focus for this desert town. A regional mall, a housing project and a research and development centre is proposed. The architecture takes its cue from the stepped roof tops of the Pueblo Indio.
Credits
Jerde Partnership, Los Angeles, United States
CORINNE GIRARD YOUNG Design architect
Urban Design
PLACES DE MERCUREY, Mercurey, France (under construction)
Regional state subsidies for sustainable design are obtained for the development and landscaping of the centre of the town of Mercurey.
The project aims to return underutilised public spaces to the inhabitants by redesigning existing urban squares positioned alongside the linear village.
An alternative and integrated management of rainwater is proposed by replacing impermeable surfaces with materials allowing infiltration to return the rain water to the water table.
Vegetation is selected for shade, drought resistance and melliferouce qualities.
The squares form part of the Camino trail network, so a drinking fountain is provided for the pilgrims.
