We are talking about the Rue de la Lois - a four-lane highway, constantly loaded with transport, on both sides of which various EU institutions are located. Now there, in offices and conference rooms with a total area of about 2 million m2, work 30,000 EU officials. There are also various diplomatic missions, press centers, etc. The development of de la Lois (exclusively administrative buildings), at best, is functional, but does not differ in beauty or variety.
Portzampark proposes to "open up the area to the sky" by increasing the height of individual buildings, making their volumes more varied. This will give the EU governing body 240,000 m2 of new space (which equates to 10,000 offices measuring 5 mx 5 m), as well as acquiring free space at ground level. It is planned to use it for walking and cycling paths and landscaping. The transport infrastructure is going to be relieved by laying eco-tram routes along the Rue de la Loix: in general, Christian de Portzamparc plans to turn the area into a "green" zone.
His goal was also to revitalize the urban environment: the addition of 40 thousand m2 of shops, restaurants and other commercial establishments, as well as 110 thousand m2 of housing should ensure activity in the European Quarter 24 hours / 7 days a week.
In the near future, the general plan will be developed in detail, and then competitions will be held for projects of individual buildings and ensembles. Construction should start after 2011.
