Christian Devillers unveils the model of Nice Méridia at MIPIM

Nice Méridia is one component of the Eco-Vallée programme, which stretches from Cagnes-sur-Mer to Cap d'Ail and takes in the ski resorts of Mercantour-Isola 2000, Auron and Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage. Launched by Christian Estrosi in 2008, this development project covers some fifteen municipalities over an area of 10,000 hectares.

Eco-Vallée is made up of several urban projects:

- Grand Arénas: This is the flagship project, on a 51-hectare site at the gates of Nice. Close to the airport, this business-focused district will provide 680,000 m² of floorspace, along with 1,350 homes. A 75,000 m² exhibition centre is also planned, and the aim of this business district is to bring together 21,000 jobs.

- Nice Méridia: This district will be the valley's research hub, where 4,000 jobs in R&D and sustainable development are expected. It will extend over 26 hectares and include 2,100 homes.

- La Baronne: The Parc de la Baronne will house the logistics activities of the agri-food and horticulture sectors on a 25-hectare site.

- Allianz Riviera: The practice Wilmotte & Associés is responsible for designing the new Nice stadium through a PPP (public-private partnership) with Vinci. The venue comes with 29,000 m² of property development.

- Gare du Sud: The practice Reichen et Robert & Associés has been tasked with regenerating the area around Nice's railway station.

- La coulée verte: The landscaping of the 12 hectares linking the old town of Nice with the modern city has been entrusted to the landscape architects Pena & Pena.

- Nice-Thiers: This is the multimodal interchange in the centre of Nice.

While most of the urban projects above are already under construction, the architect Christian Devillers yesterday unveiled the plans for Nice Méridia at MIPIM. Awarded to the architect last year, the Nice Méridia ZAC (zone d'aménagement concerté, or mixed-use development zone) will be officially established next June, at which point 35,000 m² will be put on the market.

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This eco-district is dedicated to the sustainable development and research sectors. As in any eco-district, biomass, geothermal and solar energy are on the menu, but this one stands out for the way it distributes energy. The whole district is linked by a smart grid connecting the various energy sources to the points of consumption: 160,000 m² of housing, 50,000 m² of offices, 50,000 m² of laboratories and R&D space, and 45,000 m² of public facilities. The aim is to make the best use of energy resources in an area at the end of the line.

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Christian Devillers comments: "Nice Méridia is the city of tomorrow. The project is based on the concept of an urban technopole: research and cutting-edge activities will be set in the heart of the city. Environmentally respectful, economically successful and innovative in its use of the best technologies, Nice Méridia is a technopole that takes full advantage of urban life."

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The urban project is woven into the facilities already in place. The tramway line will be extended along Avenue Slama and will terminate at the Allianz Riviera stadium. This avenue is lined with buildings that are nearing completion. Avenue de Grenoble, meanwhile, is being redesigned, and the buildings flanking it will have retail units at ground-floor level.