Cours des Cinquante Otages

previous state

The Cours des Cinquante Otages became the main avenue in the centre of Nantes in the thirties, when the old branch of the River Erdre, which skirted the medieval city and flowed into the Loire, was filled in. This operation, involving the reclamation of land from the river beds also affected other zones in the city centre. It enabled Nantes to increase its network of roads which, in the course of time, became the main arteries for road traffic. In the eighties, the Cours comprised a section of eight traffic lanes where the car was the principal means of transport. The avenue had become a city motorway and its barrier effect had brought about the total segregation of the two nuclei which formed the old city: the medieval core and the eighteenth-century town.

aim of the intervention

The need to reorganise the Cours des Cinquante Otages fell within the context of the programme "a New Centrality for Nantes" which introduced new bases for reflection on city-centre interventions. As well as the Cours, the programme included important heritage sites such as the Ile Feydeau and, to the west, the area known as Petite Hollande. The basic aim was to regain values of centrality in areas congested by traffic, to foster public transport and reconquer spaces for pedestrians. It was a question of regaining a public space which allowed a balance between various means of transport and pedestrian links between the two districts in the old town. The decision to operate the second tramline along the Cours was one of the main factors in its redevelopment, as it involved pledging a firm commitment to a means of public tranport which would cause no pollution and integrate perfectly with the planned improvements to public space. At the same time, the second tramline made it possible to connect peripheral areas with the city centre, that is, from the southern zone to Rézé, and to the northern zone via the university campus.

description

The project which won the competition to redevelop the avenue, proposed the creation of a large city park in the centre of Nantes, which, in the future, would extend from the Loire to the castle of the Dukes of Britanny, where the Île Feydeau is to become part of a "green island". The Cours was considered a "magnificent avenue", and its dimensions provided ample space for coexistence between pedestrians, bicycles, the tram, bus routes and cars.

In the section of the Cours, the space reserved for cars and buses has been reduced to a width of 12 metres. The problem of the junctions has been solved with the inclusion of double traffic roundabouts which play a clear role in reducing speed, -limited by a "30 km/h zone"- whilst allowing a smooth flow of traffic.

The pedestrian areas comprise two wide pavements on either side of the avenue, and crossings giving priority to pedestrians have made it easier for them to get from one zone to the other. The tram, which runs along the west side of the Cours, and pedestrians, share the same space; no elements separate them. This means the system can be fully integrated into the pedestrianised zone. Lime trees line the tram route on the west side, while groups of four magnolias are dotted along the avenue on the east side. It has been possible to create a linear garden in the widest area, at the northern end of the avenue. The paving consists of grey granite sets intersected with white sets, and the street furniture has been designed specifically for the Cours. White lighting has been chosen to illuminate the avenue, creating a homogeneous effect.

assessment

The project has achieved a quality space which has re-established the balance between uses and the coexistence of different ways of getting around. It is important to stress the importance of the project in the design of the Cours, that is, in the careful handling of materials and the solutions adopted in the definition of new space. Most importantly, it has reintroduced the tram as a means of changing and regenerating public spaces in cities. This aspect has not been limited to the area of the Cours but has also had an effect on peripheral zones where the second tramline runs, such as the Place du Château, in the town of Rézé, the area of Pirmil and the Quai de Versailles. It has also fostered spaces for modal exchange (car parks at the entrances to the city, bus links). The future of Nantes involves continuing the project which won the competition to restructure the historic centre, and consolidating the tram as a new means of transport with the opening of a third line around the year 2000.