A bold experiment in urban planning with a limited lifespan.

For decades, coastal cities around the world have been planned with a vision extending hundreds of years into the future. The city of Caen, in northwestern France, experimented with a bold model: building an urban area that was, from the outset, designed to be demolished in the future.

Located on the Caen Peninsula, the approximately 35-hectare area between the Orne River and the Caen Canal was once the heart of an ambitious urban redevelopment project. According to the original plan, the Nouveau Bassin area would have 2,300-2,500 apartments, commercial spaces, services, and economic activities, with a total built-up area of ​​approximately 250,000 m². The project, with a budget of around €90 million, was part of a program to redevelop over 300 hectares of former industrial and port land in the Caen metropolitan area.

Thanks to its prime location near the city center, the railway station, the Alexis de Tocqueville library, and cultural institutions, it was once expected to become one of the most attractive residential areas in Normandy. The turning point came in 2023, after new climate studies and assessments by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) revealed an increasingly evident risk of rising sea levels.

According to the IPCC, the global average sea level could rise from approximately 0.28m to over 1m by the end of the 21st century, depending on greenhouse gas emission scenarios. According to the European Environment Agency, around 40% of the European Union's population lives in coastal areas, which are increasingly affected by coastal erosion, flooding, and rising sea levels. France alone possesses nearly 5,000km of coastline, making adaptation a long-term challenge for many cities.

In the case of Caen, the peninsula, situated in the Orne estuary, is directly affected by tides and storm surges. Hydraulic studies confirm that the area may face more frequent flooding in the coming decades, threatening the long-term viability of a densely populated community.

Instead of investing hundreds of millions of euros to combat nature with dikes or large-scale protective structures, the local authorities have chosen a different approach, accepting the reality of the climate and adjusting their planning now.

This decision effectively canceled almost the entire original project. The built-up area was drastically reduced, from approximately 250,000 square meters to just about 20,000 square meters. The majority of the space will be dedicated to greenery, parks, water absorption areas, and ecological restoration. What makes the Caen model unique is the concept of a “time-limited city.”

According to the new plan, the structures are built with an expected lifespan of approximately 50-60 years. Demolition work could begin around 2070 and be completed around 2080 if current climate scenarios unfold as predicted. In other words, a "controlled withdrawal" has been incorporated into the urban design.

To minimize future social impacts, the city is also completely changing the target users. Instead of developing permanent housing or social housing, the project will prioritize accommodation for students, short-term workers, newcomers to the workforce, or tourists . The government will continue to retain land ownership, while the businesses investing in the construction will be responsible for demolition at the end of their lifespan.

VIET LE

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/thu-nghiem-tao-bao-ve-do-thi-co-han-su-dung-post855681.html