Translations

EDF encourages eco-construction and circular urbanism through the Architecture Contest 'Low Carbon'

4. Environment

Construction

Sector Energy / Water

Year 2016

Country France

Transmitter

Context

Every year since 2008, EDF organizes the contest “Architecture Low Carbon” which aims to transform a neighbourhood in order to re-examine the consumption, the recycling and the circularity of these 4 important pillars: the urban materials, the biological matters, the waters and the energies. The neighbourhoods being under renovation, in requalification or the transformation of buildings (offices, shops…) into housing are some examples of common subjects of the contest.

Objectives

Reflect on the circularity of the neighbourhood under the 4 important pillars
Raise awareness among the urbanism players about eco-construction
Create new criteria of conception and urban construction (circularity index numbers)
Transform the city in order to answer the housing needs and the increasing requirements regarding energy performance

APPROACH

EDF submits to the expertise and reflection of architects, urbanists and designers a single theme that explores a specific dimension of the sustainable city (collective housing, renovation, social housing…) and follow the same process to award the best team:

Selection of teams by the jury
Preparation of the project during 4 months
Selection of the 4 finalist projects, which will benefit from a technical follow-up and support from EDF experts for 3 months
Selection by the jury of the best project, which is then rewarded
Implementation of the winning project

Thanks to the number and quality of submitted projects, this contest, which is a real think tank, is a reference for professional players who consider it as a lever of innovation and realisation of a sustainable city.

CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE

Reduction of planning costs of the city (development of the existing urban networks)
Involvement of local players

Benefits

Reduction of the carbon footprint thanks to ambitious systems of energy management (solar panels, heat pumps)
Individual and collective solution for heating
Land densification in accordance with the environment in which it takes place
Revitalization of a territory in accordance with its industrial and working past
Creation and integration of social housing thanks to the restoration of old buildings