The Eco Quarter is a part of a big project of the Ministry Of Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability, called the Rives de la Haute Deûle (The banks of Haute Deule)

Sustainable Development is a core element of the project

The Rives de la Haute Deûle has been a pilot site since 2006. In 2009 it was named an EcoQuarter and received an award of the Ministry of Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability in the category “Water”.

Designing and building a sustainable development community required scrupulous supervision, continuous progress evaluation, and rigorous certification process to ensure the proper use of resources to meet present and future human needs while preserving the environment . This task couldn’t have been accomplished without an experienced and committed management, well familiar with principles and best practices of sustainable development.

The project was organized based on the following categories, reflecting its evolution :

• Project planning
• Concept designs: commercial and residential communities, publics spaces
• Architectural review
• Project phases description
• Review of the comments of residents of the community

What does it mean: sustainability of the Rives de la Haute-Deûle Development?

• Neighborhood integration: the area is developed to its full potential, it has a distinctive identity; the neighborhoods are harmoniously integrated with each other; water presence is tastefully enhanced, the industrial heritage is thoughtfully preserved.
• Lower density : in contrast with the high density of the surrounding districts, Haute-Deuele’s architectural and landscape design and the organization of the space and their functions resulted in more spread neighborhoods with lower density and a greater sense of space.
• Social and functional diversity : the project responded to all recreational needs of an urban community and the needs of different social and culturally diverse neighborhoods.
• Urban comfort while preserving the environment : the development is designed with an attention to environmental conditions ( the direction of the wind, sun, groundwater) which resulted in superior climatic conditions inside of the buildings, limiting noise and other potential environmental disturbances.
• Rainwater is managed : rainwater management ensures minimization of damage from rains and control over the flow of water in the public spaces.
• Landscape and biodiversity : particular attention is given to the landscape and biodiversity by carefully selecting trees, plants and flowers.
• Ease of transportation : the community has a well designed and easily accessible public transportation system with pedestrian walking areas, bicycle paths and plenty of parking spaces.
• Use of "green" materials the construction materials are chosen with environmental sustainability as a high priority. The use of “green” materials creates a comfortable and healthy indoor environment.
• Energy efficiency : the energy is efficiently utilized and redirected based on the consumption needs of different building complexes; the use of renewable sources of energy is encouraged.

During the construction, 80% of waste materials coming from demolition were recycled. The pollution was greatly reduced as a result of introducing new strict pollution standards.

The objective of the development was to make the newly arrived residents feel welcomed, but also aware of “good citizens” practices and attitudes of a truly “green” community.