By Maxence Gorregues
Published on
It will have to be delivered for the big millennium celebration of Caen (Calvados) in 2025. As a strong symbol of modernism echoing a rich medieval past dating back 10 centuries. A round holder of a fifteen floors must come out of the ground in the large car park located behind the Maison du vélo in the Rives de l’Orne district, at the corner of rue Rosa Parks and cours Koenig. A strategic location for this future reinforced totem at one of the main entrances to the city.
Lower than the CHU
With a height of about 60 meters, this building will be one of the tallest in the city. It will be smaller than the CHU tower which oversees the entire Caen conurbation from its height of 86 meters, but it should be closer to the Molière tower in the Chemin Vert district (58.51 m) and the 214 rue d’Auge (51.62m).
The project is supported by public real estate developers. La Caennaise is teaming up in this case with Normandie Aménagement. For now, 5,000 m² of offices are planned, as well as 5,000 m² of housing. This millennium building will be endowed with a “strong architectural gesture”, confides Joël Bruneau, the mayor of Caen.
The construction of this emblematic building will lead to a move, that of the Maison du vélo, installed since 2013 on part of the land area planned for this major project. Occupants are waiting to find out where they will move in the future, although they are expected to remain in the station area.
Echoing a Le Havre project?
For several years now, this flagship tower project in Caen has been discussed by elected officials, both in the City and within the Regional Council. The Caen tower could echo another tower under construction in Normandy, in Le Havre, known as Alta. The construction site was launched in the spring of 2021 in the Saint-François district. Also having a strong architectural gesture, since twisted, it must culminate at 55 meters high, for a total of 17 levels. Its delivery is expected for the end of 2023. With its future Caen counterpart, they would symbolically mark the entry of the valley of the seineeven if in Le Havre two other lighthouses already exist, with the 17 floors of the town hall, and the 107-meter lantern tower of the Saint-Joseph church.
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