Author(s)

M. Laprise, S. Lufkin, E. Rey

Abstract

In the context of the post-industrial European city, urban wastelands offer an important potential for buildable surfaces as well as an opportunity to revitalize and densify some portions of the existing built fabric. Initiatives of this type are now strongly fostered by land use policies. However, we note that in most projects, references to the concept of sustainable development are partial and superficial. Yet, an optimized transformation of urban wastelands into sustainable neighborhoods cannot rely simply on density issues or environmental considerations. It requires a proactive search for global quality, closely linked to the project dynamic, and a continuous assessment of the many dimensions of sustainability specifically adapted to these sites. This paper shows how a strategic integration of operational assessment into the regeneration of urban wastelands addresses these targets specifically. Preliminary research has allowed the identification of a set of criteria and indicators based on specific characteristics of urban wasteland transformations, as well as the achievement of a first test application on a concrete project in Neuchâtel (Switzerland). On the basis of these works, a strategy is then developed to transpose the set into a structured digital monitoring tool in order to create an operational assessment applicable to a multitude of similar projects. Ultimately, it aims to concretely facilitate the transformation of urban wastelands into sustainable neighborhoods by providing useful bases to stakeholders involved in their management.

Keywords

urban strategy, architectural design, urban wasteland, sustainable neighborhood, sustainability assessment, indicator system, monitoring tool, project monitoring