Rue Saint-Sever renewal
Basic information
Project Title
Rue Saint-Sever renewal
Full project title
the renewal of the pedestrian and commercial street Saint-Sever, heart of the district
Category
Regaining a sense of belonging
Project Description
In 2018, the Métropole Rouen Normandie (local authority) has renewed the Saint-Sever street, witch is a commercial axis and the heart of the district Saint-Sever, part of the city center of Rouen, on the left bank of the Seine river. It is an old suburb, popular and formerly industrial.
The public spaces works allowed to enhance the mobility of people with disabilities and the place of nature in the district.
A particular attention has been paid on women place in public space.
The public spaces works allowed to enhance the mobility of people with disabilities and the place of nature in the district.
A particular attention has been paid on women place in public space.
Geographical Scope
Local
Project Region
Rouen, France
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
Yes
Which funds
ERDF : European Regional Development Fund
Description of the project
Summary
The renewal of the pedestrian and commercial street and place "Saint-Sever" took part in the Saint-Sever district, witch represents a part of the city center of Rouen, Normandy's capital. This side of the city center, on the left bank of the Seine river isn't the historic and tourist centre of Rouen, located in the right bank of the Seine river. However, Saint-Sever district hosts the first buisiness district of the metropolis of Rouen, with more than 2500 establishments and 18 000 workers. Despite the economic dynamics, Saint-Sever's population is impoverished and it's business activities declines.
The Saint-Sever street and place is an historic axis of the faubourian city of Rouen, "out of the walls", where craft and industrial activites took place since the middle ages. Sofar it is the major commercial artery of the district, conforted by an outdoor market at the north of the street and by a regional commercial mall at the south, connected to the place Saint-Sever.
This street has been designed for pedestrian in 1978 but has never been changed since then.
These works concern spaces dedicated to pedestrians and consist of a complete recovery of the structure of the road, in particular its complete earthworks, the creation of gutters in granite slabs, the installation of street furniture and the planting of green spaces.
the work lasted throughout 2018. 2019 was an opportunity to showcase this development and involve residents and users with a temporary furniture witch offer places to pose and play colorful games during the summer of 2019 and an ephemeral artwork of the monumental art festival "Monumental Forest" during fall 2019.
in 2020, the street took also part in a street art festival "Rouen impressionnée".
The Saint-Sever street and place is an historic axis of the faubourian city of Rouen, "out of the walls", where craft and industrial activites took place since the middle ages. Sofar it is the major commercial artery of the district, conforted by an outdoor market at the north of the street and by a regional commercial mall at the south, connected to the place Saint-Sever.
This street has been designed for pedestrian in 1978 but has never been changed since then.
These works concern spaces dedicated to pedestrians and consist of a complete recovery of the structure of the road, in particular its complete earthworks, the creation of gutters in granite slabs, the installation of street furniture and the planting of green spaces.
the work lasted throughout 2018. 2019 was an opportunity to showcase this development and involve residents and users with a temporary furniture witch offer places to pose and play colorful games during the summer of 2019 and an ephemeral artwork of the monumental art festival "Monumental Forest" during fall 2019.
in 2020, the street took also part in a street art festival "Rouen impressionnée".
Key objectives for sustainability
The main objectives of this development were to improve walking and travel comfort for bicycles and people with disabilities.
The layout of the green spaces has been designed to resist the lack of water and to bring freshness in summer.
The layout of the green spaces has been designed to resist the lack of water and to bring freshness in summer.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
This development has made it possible to restore a coherent coating to this pedestrian street and to offer the same treatment qualities as the pedestrian streets of the historic center.
Particular attention has been paid to the forecourt of the church in order to highlight this heritage building and emblematic of the district.
The organization of the benches, but also the organization of the spaces dedicated to the terraces of the cafés, made it possible to ensure the role of an important social place for this street, while trying to avoid situations that could generate a feeling of insecurity, especially for women.
Particular attention has been paid to the forecourt of the church in order to highlight this heritage building and emblematic of the district.
The organization of the benches, but also the organization of the spaces dedicated to the terraces of the cafés, made it possible to ensure the role of an important social place for this street, while trying to avoid situations that could generate a feeling of insecurity, especially for women.
Key objectives for inclusion
The old street was divided into two banks with a difference in topographic levels which generated steps. All the street has be remodeled to give a smooth and continous experience, especially for people with disabilities. As possible, the public entrance of shops and services of this commercial street has been treated in the layout to remove or reduce the height with the level of the public space and improve accessibility standards for shops.
An attention as been paid to visually impaired and blind people with a contrasting and integrated guide line in the layout.
On top of that, attention as been paid for women in public spaces. As demonstrated by a student in sociology, this street suffered from a lack of appropriation by women and developed a strong feeling of insecurity, especially by women (due to groups of youngs men).
An attention as been paid to visually impaired and blind people with a contrasting and integrated guide line in the layout.
On top of that, attention as been paid for women in public spaces. As demonstrated by a student in sociology, this street suffered from a lack of appropriation by women and developed a strong feeling of insecurity, especially by women (due to groups of youngs men).
Results in relation to category
This development has made it possible to develop soft mobility, especially walking and cycling, and to improve the movement of people with disabilities. It has also made it possible to improve the place of women in the public space and to reduce their feeling of insecurity.
How Citizens benefit
The development of rue Saint-Sever was the subject of a local urban workshop involving many residents and users of this street. Numerous consultation meetings have made it possible to redefine uses, levels and choices of vegetation.
The street traders were particularly involved before the construction site and during the construction site.
The inauguration of the street, somewhat impacted by the social movements of the yellow vests at the end of 2018 at the beginning of 2019, undermined the initial plans for a popular festival. Nevertheless, a participatory show was put on in May 2019 in front of the Saint-Sever church.
The ephemeral installations of furniture and works of art during the summer of 2019 allowed residents to rediscover their street after a few months of construction.
The street traders were particularly involved before the construction site and during the construction site.
The inauguration of the street, somewhat impacted by the social movements of the yellow vests at the end of 2018 at the beginning of 2019, undermined the initial plans for a popular festival. Nevertheless, a participatory show was put on in May 2019 in front of the Saint-Sever church.
The ephemeral installations of furniture and works of art during the summer of 2019 allowed residents to rediscover their street after a few months of construction.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
The innovative character of the project lies in the combined approach of a development of public space constituting a living space and artistic and design interventions which allow to highlight the human wealth of the district.
The integration of rue Saint-Sever into the "Rouen impressed" street-art route in 2020, with the integration on a facade of a work representing a female face, has made it possible to offer a new look at this part from the city. It also allowed residents of the rest of the city of Rouen and its agglomeration to cross the Seine, and thus to contribute - albeit modestly - to the mental boundaries between the right and left banks of the City.
The integration of rue Saint-Sever into the "Rouen impressed" street-art route in 2020, with the integration on a facade of a work representing a female face, has made it possible to offer a new look at this part from the city. It also allowed residents of the rest of the city of Rouen and its agglomeration to cross the Seine, and thus to contribute - albeit modestly - to the mental boundaries between the right and left banks of the City.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
This project has combined skills in urban planning, landscaping, public works techniques, but also sociologists and artists.
Methodology used
The rue Saint-Sever development project was not limited to work on public spaces but was accompanied by interventions to enliven the street and allow the reappropriation of this public space by the inhabitants.
This 2A approach - Aménager et Accompagner (D&S : Develop and Support that souds less good in english) is now available for other public space projects.
This 2A approach - Aménager et Accompagner (D&S : Develop and Support that souds less good in english) is now available for other public space projects.
How stakeholders are engaged
The metropolis is the contracting authority for the works.
The municipality of Rouen organised the public participation.
European Union supported the project with the european fund for regional development, as the Région Normandy as managing authority. It made it possible to highlight this development via the communication of the region.
The municipality of Rouen organised the public participation.
European Union supported the project with the european fund for regional development, as the Région Normandy as managing authority. It made it possible to highlight this development via the communication of the region.
Global challenges
Cultural rights,
sustainable mobility
adaptation to climate change
sustainable mobility
adaptation to climate change
Learning transferred to other parties
The 2A approach - Aménager et Accompagner ( Develop and Support ) can be replicated, in respect of cultural rights and the particularities of the places.
Keywords
Renewal of public space
Renaturation
Inclusion
district's pride
art in the street
