Last updated: April 2022
JDS Architects Designed a Geometric Green-Roofed Youth Center for Lille, France. Organized around a massive courtyard, the three sections of the triangle building each feature a roof that serves as an integral part of its sustainability. The kindergarten roof was planned to be a vegetated garden area with a grassy play surface that helps cool the building. (Ref 1)
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Green playgrounds and school grounds
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Green roofs
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Regulation of built environment
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
The objectives were (a) to build a roof with grasstop;(b) to reduce the energy consumption of the building; (c) to keep the air cool inside the building in hot summers; and (d) to create a place where children can play and engage in outdoor activities (Ref 2,3).
Implementation activities
The green roof has been planned to install on the kindergarten roof of the Euralille youth center. The roof has been planned to become a grassy roof and easily accessible from the other buildings’ rooftop connected to the kindergarten building. The status of the green roof installation is unknown. Lille is a city with a turbulent history of conquest and reconquest, a heritage as an important medieval city and later the industrial capital. It is this history, the unique and striking presence of remnants of ramparts of the citadel, which the project seeks to mention. (Ref 1,2)
Regarding the status of the project: The construction of the building was completed in 2015 while the status of the green roof installation is unknown. Several sources mention an outdoor play area for children on the rooftop of the kindergarten, but whether the area has a green roof is unknown. (Ref 1, 6)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Install vertical or horizontal artificial surfaces that help with carbon storage and cooling
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Architects: JDS Architects, Project called by: SAEM Euralille (Ref 1,2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
((a) France’s National Biodiversity Strategy: to protect and increase biodiversity
(b) Eco-roof law: all the new building should have green roof and solar panel. (Ref 2)
)
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Other
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
No
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Reduced emissions
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Other
Economic impacts
- Reduce financial cost for urban management
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. JDS Architects designed a geometric green-roofed youth center in Lille France. Inhabitants Reports. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 12th August, 2020.
2. Euralille Youth Center. JDS Architect. 2011. Archdaily. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 12th August, 2020.
3. Julien de Smedt’s youth center. 2015. DE ZEEN. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 12th August, 2020.
4. SEAM (Societe d'Aménagement d'Economie Mixte). Available at: Source link. accessed on 12th August, 2020.
5. Lanoo Julien. Maison Hessel. Ecco Collection. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 12th August, 2020.
2. Euralille Youth Center. JDS Architect. 2011. Archdaily. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 12th August, 2020.
3. Julien de Smedt’s youth center. 2015. DE ZEEN. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 12th August, 2020.
4. SEAM (Societe d'Aménagement d'Economie Mixte). Available at: Source link. accessed on 12th August, 2020.
5. Lanoo Julien. Maison Hessel. Ecco Collection. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 12th August, 2020.