SUBMARINE BASE OF LORIENT
KEROMAN INTERNATIONAL IDEAS COMPETITION
Analysis: Problems Of Existing Site
¥ Due to its "off-limits" status and uninviting character, the submarine
base has blocked public access to the water and interrupted the pedestrian
circuit along the water's edge
¥ Rue Dordelin and Avenue du Commendant L'Herminier have created a barrier
between the eastern and western zones of the site
¥ The strong formal geometry at the core of the finishing port is not
at all spatially perceptible
¥ There is no focus on the edge of the Ter and no urban clarity to the
Northwest zone which resembles a haphazard industrial wasteland.
¥ The current - and proposed - use of the bunkers is rather ad-hoc,
and appears to be purely pragmatic. The monumental architectural presence
and the iconic/mnemonic power of these objects, however monstrous in
their original purpose, is being denied. The rest of the base area is
merely a depressing example of banal military architecture and planning.
Planning Concept
¥ The overall urban space of the site will be clarified and made cohesive
through the use of design, not just general planning.
¥ Multi-modal transportational links to the larger surrounding region
will be established.
¥ The space of the former submarine base will be opened to the public
in the true "public" sense, i.e. commercial/industrial uses will be
transferred elsewhere.
¥ Such opening-up of the area will allow for, and naturally encourage,
public access to the water's edge and uninterrupted circulation along
the waterfront.
¥ The bunkers will house functions that take advantage of their architectural
and mnemonic power.
¥ New symbiotic economic engine will drive revitalization of the fishing
port. ¥ Green space will provide definition to the edge of the river
Ter.
The Project
General Strategy
¥ A number of existing buildings and roads will be removed to "erase"
the unnecessary fabric and facilitate new development.
¥ New buildings will be strategically inserted to re-define space and
where they are functionally needed.
¥ Development "zones" will be created with a set of design guidelines
for future growth and potential private development.
¥ Nodal connections will be set up to establish links with the surrounding
region, both spacially and through transport modes.
Overall Site Development
¥ In order to define entry to the site by land, a diagonal running from
the traffic circle will be established. It will set up a view of the
bunkers as the terminus of the arterial road system.
¥ Rue Dordelin and Avenue du Commendant L'Herminier will be combined
into a boulevard to draw people to a new plaza at the water's edge.
This plaza will serve a variety of functions: access to the park, terminus
of the bus system, link to the ferry service, and entry to the Keroman
bunkers.
¥ A public park will be created on the roof of Bunker 3 at the water's
edge.
¥ East-west links to the port will be created by removing existing buildings
from the plaza and by providing a pedestrian connection to the north
of the bunkers
The Bunkers
¥ The goals in developing new program for the bunker buildings are:
to avoid treating them as generic space; to take advantage of their
powerful physical presence and unique interior spatial qualities; and
to acknowledge, rather than deny, their history.
¥ Removal of surrounding "parasite" buildings and landscape elements
will reveal the true scale of the bunker blocks.
¥ Although specific functions will be assigned to the buildings, the
program will allow for multiple and relatively open-ended uses.
¥ Bunker 3, due to its location on the site and its position relative
to the other two blocks, will house a special function: an art center
where artists from all over the world will be invited to create monumental
installations that will remain on view for extended periods of time.
The roof of the building will be developed as a public park which at
night can also be used for concerts and other public spectacles.
¥ Bunkers 1 and 2 will jointly house the Museum of Sub-Acquatic Warfare.
The "Strosskopf" area between the two buildings will be used as an open-air
theater, while the north wall of Bunker 2 can also be used for film
projection, much like a drive-in cinema.
¥ Solar panels on the roofs of Bunkers 1 and 2 will provide energy for
the Keroman site.
Fishing Port / Research & Development Center
¥ The core of the zone, based on the existing circular footprint, will
be built up to house the "technical platform" (a complex of high-tech
factories and R&D facilities). It will also accommodate ship repair
and dry dock functions. This new center will serve as the economic engine
for revitalization of the port.
¥ Center for meetings and research, including a waterfront hotel, will
be constructed in the Halieutic area.
¥ An east/west pedestrian link will be established between these two
areas.
The Quays
¥ A new public fish market incorporating restaurants and cafes along
Quay Pourquoi Pas will draw people to the port.
¥ Additional boats like Victor Plevin can be brought to the Keroman
quay, where tourist information booths and temporary market pavillions
will be located.
Northwest Zone
¥ Existing residential development will be extended north of Rue Francois
Toullec, towards water's edge.
¥ Sports fields will be relocated behind the existing strip commercial
development along the road to Larmour-Plage.
Edge of the Ter
¥ A natural park will be developed to link the area with the Ter Ponds.
Circulation
¥ Pedestrian and bicycle promenade will be laid out along the water.
¥ Pedestrian bridge will be built to provide access from the port to
the park on the roof of Bunker 3.
¥ Automatic tram will convey passengers between the traffic circle and
Keroman Plaza. City busses will also stop at the circle and terminate
at the Plaza.
¥ Ferry will link the harbour with Keroman Plaza. ¥ Automobile access
to Keroman Plaza will be provided, with parking for large events located
directly off the traffic circle. Regular daily parking will be scattered
throughout the site.
Landscape
¥ A green park will both delineate and link the three main areas: the
Northwest residential zone, the Port, and the Keroman site.
¥ The site entry will be planted with marsh grasses. A bosc will be
laid out behind the hotel and research center.
¥ Existing deep beams on the roof of Bunker 3 will be filled with soil,
and a tree canopy will be planted. This "artificial turf" will become
a "wired" green space, allowing for use of multi-media event equipment.
¥ Development of natural landscape will take place along the edge of
the Ter, while infill green will "permeate" the residential zone.
¥ The green edge at the north edge of the site along rue Benoit Frachon
will create a demarkation line between the port and the city.
Phasing of the Work
Short Term
¥ Develop new uses for the Bunkers.
¥ Develop the park on the roof of Bunker 3.
¥ Re-develop existing base buildings for new use.
Mid Term
¥ Develop new research center and hotel complex.
¥ Construct the "Technical Platform" facilities in the Port zone.
¥ Create the east-west pedestrian link.
¥ Remove existing auxiliary buildings around Bunkers.
Long Term
¥ Develop the Northwest zone, and relocate sports fields.
¥ Develop the landscape along the Ter. Zoning Changes ¥ Change UD, UEa,
UEb in Northwest area to UB to allow for residential development.
¥ Change UEp along the Ter to NDa to allow for development of the park.
¥ Change Keroman site zoning as required to allow for new intended uses.
