With a metropolitan population of 690,000, Grenoble sits among the most populated urban regions of France. Sometimes referred to as the Capital of the Alps, the city's growth is limited by its location at the junction of three valleys. As a result, it is the third densest city centre in the country, with 8,733.9 people per square kilometre, as large plots of land available for development are scarce and density is necessary.

High density, walkability, and green spaces define the Bonne neighbourhood, image by Nicolas Arnaud-Goddet

In 2001, the city of Grenoble launched a revitalization project for the former Barracks of Bonne, an 8.5-hectare site vacated in 1994 and located just outside of the downtown core. The city, which aimed to transform the area into the first environmentally-friendly district of France and repurpose the 1884 heritage buildings, hired Aktis Architecture and Devillers & Associés to conceive a mixed-used neighbourhood that would eventually become an extension of the downtown core in terms of density and walkability.

The heritage structures were repurposed and integrated into the neighbourhood, image by Nicolas Arnaud-Goddet

In 2008, residents moved into the first of a total of 900 highly sustainable residential units, 40% of which are designated as social housing, while 200 are student housing. One thousand square metres of solar panels have been placed on the buildings' rooftops, producing 45% of the energy necessary for the production of resident hot water. The buildings' insulation is enhanced by the presence of green walls and roofs, while the interiors are equipped with energy-saving devices and eco-friendly materials such as marmoleum flooring, which is made from a blend of organic ingredients.

The buildings are equipped with solar panels, image by Nicolas Arnaud-Goddet Lining the five-hectare park which constitutes approximately 40% of the neighbourhood, are 5000 square metres of office space, a four-star hotel, a school, an assisted-living residence for seniors, a movie theatre, and a 17,000-square-metre mall. Known as the Caserne de Bonne, the groupe-6-designed retail edifice features 50 stores, including a supermarket. In the winter, the mall is heated exclusively by sunlight, image by Nicolas Arnaud-Goddet The shopping centre boasts an ecological design, with the complete absence of air conditioning and heating technologies. Ultra-performing facades with exterior insulation keep the cold winter air from entering the mall, which is exclusively heated by the sunlight flowing through the ample south-facing windows. In the summer, many doors and windows scattered throughout the building are opened to allow for natural air circulation and cooling. Ponds allow for the storage of rain water, image by Nicolas Arnaud-Goddet Due to the water table's proximity to the ground level, 30 infiltration wells equipped with a filtration system were placed underneath the park to ensure both the preservation of the water table and the proper evacuation of storm water. Buildings feature green rooftops capable to storing rain water and are connected to the infiltration wells in case of surplus. The central ponds collect part of the rainwater that is further used to water the neighbourhood's green spaces, thus eliminating the waste of potable water.

New streets were created to connect the neighbourhood to the surroundings, picture by Nicolas Arnaud-Goddet

In 2009, the city of Grenoble and the Bonne neighbourhood were rewarded by the French Ministry of Environment with the prize for the best Eco District of the country. What do you think of this environmentally friendly neighbourhood? Tell us by leaving a comment at the bottom of this page!