Caserne de Bonne Shopping Center, Grenoble, France

A bioclimatic shopping centre at the heart of an exemplar European 'eco-quarter'
The city of Grenoble and the French Ministry of Defence launched in 2000 a programme for the conversion and development of the 8.5 acre Old Bonne Garrison into new housing quarters (family and social housing), a park and a shopping centre.

The site located between the city centre and the 'Grands Boulevards', was sold to the city in 1990 in order to develop a model green ZAC (concerted development urban area) with high environmental quality ('HQE'), partialy funded by the European programme Concerto. In 2005, Groupe-6 won the competition for the design and construction of 16 643 m² of shopping space, a student hall of residence, and a carpark which should open to the public in 2010.

As an 'eco-quarter', the Caserne de Bonne project is dedicated to reduce its impact onto the natural environment, boost economic development and quality of life. Beacon of the 'HQE' objectives for a commercial centre, the project has made some essential choices, including a bioclimatic system and the use of collectively generated power. Heat is produced thanks to the urban heating system ('chauffage urbain'), a network heating system allowing a minimum rejection of CO2 (objective of 161g/kwh produced).

The design also incorporates a naturally ventilated mall - no heating, no air-conditionning, with well insulated external façades and an internal enveloppe that encourages thermal exchanges with the shops. South oriented, it is closed in winter, heated by the sun. In summertime, the doors open allowing natural ventilation. The mall has a wooden structure made with European tree species only (concrete is used for the superstructure only). This is the first commercial centre of this kind in France.

Additionally, the design boasts 1000 m² of solar panels and an air-conditionning system using the ground water (between 13 and 15 °C). Half of the pluvial rains are absorbed thanks to an infiltration trench, and the rain drops are regulated thanks to the green roofs (holding of 55mm of water, i.e. 68% of the decennial rains, i.e. 80mm over 24h).

source: www.worldarchitecturenews.com
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