The 216 dwellings of the first phase bear witness to the ecological dimension that has been adopted for a district that will ultimately house 8000 to 1000 dwellings. The district’s strategic urban plan is based on the principles inspired by Agenda 21, notably in terms of its social (diverse social mix), environmental (rainwater management, renewable energies) and economic aspects (flexible products and operational phasing).

The Grand Large district is particular in that it conjugates different types of building and proposes public spaces on diverse scales: the semicircular park with its individual houses, the quay with gabled buildings, the buildings with planted terraces, the U-shaped gardens at the heart of individual lots. This diversity in the constructions and the social mix generates a lively neighbourhood in which the landmarks benefit from original perspectives: the view of the Grand Large Hotel from Rue Degans, the green opening towards the planted ramparts, and the views of the singular buildings from the quaysides. The Grand Large district is designed along the principles of sustainable development and features wind protections and rainwater management via roof valleys and the park. The buildings are designed to be energy-efficient. Priority is given to pedestrians, with motor traffic limited to the access roads to the buildings. Only Avenue des Bordes is treated as an urban boulevard, with side lanes reserved for residents.

Architects: Agence Nicolas Michelin & Associés – ANMA, Nicolas Michelin, Michel Delplace, Cyril Trétout
Project managers: Christel Giron, Hélène Méhats (competition), Christel Giron (competition and urban studies), Fanny Rozé (architectural studies)
Contracting authoruty client: CUD, Agur, S3D
Developers: Nexity, Palm Promotion, Beci.
Social housing authorities: Le Cottage Social des Flandres, La Maison Flamande
Site: ZAC du Grand Large-Neptune in Dunkirk
Schedule: Competition: 05/2005
Studies: 03/2007-2010
Delivery: 09/2010
Project type: Master plan of a 1000-dwelling district. Construction of 216 dwellings (phase 1)
Misssion type: Complete mission
Cost of architectural work: €22,250,000 (+VAT) [value as of 03/2005]
Surface area: Master plan: 16 ha
Constructions: 21,000 m2 GIA
Structural engineering: Batiserf Ingénierie
Fluid engineering: Espace Temps
Economist: Bureau Michel Forgue
Perspective art: Artefactory
Photographer : Stéphane Chalmeau