We are talking about a plan to reconstruct the territory currently occupied by industrial enterprises and transport infrastructure, and turn it into an area of mixed development - with housing, offices, shops and parks. Confluence (French confluence) is an arrow formed by the confluence of the Saone River into the Rhone. It forms the southern part of the Presqu'ille region (French peninsula), bounded by the channels of these rivers. The modern center of Lyon is located in its northern part, so the Confluence reconstruction program, launched in 1999 and designed for 30 years, gave the city a unique chance to double (by 150 hectares) the area of its "core".
As part of the first phase of the project, various public, residential and commercial buildings are being built or have already been built in the area - for example, the Confluence Museum of the Coop Himmelb (l) ay bureau.
Herzog & de Meuron and Michel Devigne are tasked with creating a 24 hectare development plan in the southeast of Confluence (including 17 hectares previously occupied by the former wholesale market moved to the outskirts of Lyon earlier this year). Also, the architects must create a project for the public space "Big Square", continuing the existing "Water Square". Also, the winners of the competition will form connections between the border areas of the area, in particular - the port of Rambeau and the Perrache embankment, as well as - between the new bridges over the Rhone.
The project is expected to be presented to the public in early 2010.
