RSHP has won a competition to masterplan Bercy Charenton, one of the last major potential brownfield development sites in Paris, giving a rare opportunity to create a new urban quarter in the capital.

The complex 63 hectare site- which adjoins the River Seine - is currently characterised by major transport interchanges: Rail junctions for three major Paris train stations, the junction of the Peripherique with Autoroute 4, all of which will need to be integrated into a more permeable city quarter.

The RSHP masterplan for Bercy Charenton will provide 5,000 new homes alongside business and retail premises to create a mixed quarter for live, work and leisure. The challenge is to integrate the district into the wider city plan whilst retaining the area’s existing character, making the most of the waterfront and views of the city. An emphasis will be placed on permeability and pedestrian access, repairing the urban fabric that is currently bisected by transport infrastructure and linking together existing and new green spaces. The design will aim to be exemplary in environmental terms, building green energy and low-energy strategies into the infrastructure and creating a dense, well-serviced district which lends itself to good pedestrian, cycling and public transport links.

The scheme builds on the ideas presented by the RSHP Team for the Grand Paris consultation, and will be conducted in the same spirit of collaboration, consultation, research and analysis. The Bercy Charenton team is expected to start work in September on a first phase 2-year study.