LYON

GERLAND

Lyon Gerland is a part of the 7th Arrondissement of Lyon, with size of 700 hectares and number of inhabitants approx. 20.000. More than 300 hectares of the land are transportation and storage areas (port and goods disposals). Gerland is located in the southern part of the city, along the left bank of the Rhone, isolated from the inner city by the river (not sufficient number of bridges and the presence of state motorway). Presence of the large size transportation structures adds to the isolation and closing of the area within the strict physical borders, what was in the past a reason for economical decline and social decay of Gerland. 400 hectares are subdued to the planning activities, supervised by Mission Gerland (specialized representation of the Grand Lyon administration).
At the beginning of the 20th century, transformed rapidly from agricultural land into the industrial area, Gerland was considered to be a laboratory for the architectural modernity with the great hall of Tony Garnier (former slaughter houses, now a cultural centre) and the study of the industrial city, with numerous companies located along a main railway line. To place the workmen, a garden city, with extensive housing was built in 1920.
In 1970, due to the industrial decline, the industrial plants were closed, and the de-valorisation of the place begun. The actions of the 1980 were concentrated on the conversion of this old industrial place into a "Technopolis", combining industrial micro-activities, services and research activities in chemical industry, pharmacy and biotechnology.
The process of conversion, present for over 20 years was an example of multi-objective planning, confronting achieved development with recent re-definition of the taken directions. The redevelopment of the area was shaped by framework, network and infrastructure, before a specific strategic concept appeared.