Rives Ardentes

Project: Rives Ardentes
Architect: artau, architectures

Momentary association

Buur (Sweco), Syntaxe, Altiplan, Atelier d'Architecture du Sart Tilman

Programme

To envision the renewal of the site, the project is embedded in the broader dynamics of the city of Liège. It responds to the specific characteristics of the place, takes into account the expectations of future residents, and adopts a sustainable approach, both economically and environmentally. The development clearly expresses the ambition to anchor the park within the structure of the valley: it runs across the site from the banks of the Meuse to the heart of the neighbourhood, infiltrating the existing urban fabric. The masterplan seeks to preserve and reinforce the site’s green dimension by maintaining the scale of Astrid Park, extending its influence through the greening of public spaces, and creating numerous collective areas dedicated to landscaped uses.

The landscape principles developed on the site are expressed through a diversity of atmospheres, varying according to the relationship with the city, the river, and long-range perceptions. Each place conveys a specific character, in dialogue with existing landscape features and rich in potential opportunities. These different ambiances are articulated together to unify the neighbourhood and strengthen its overall coherence.

The network of public spaces creates direct transversal connections between the existing neighbourhood and the banks of the Meuse. Some of these links connect the project to the wider urban structure, while others operate at the scale of local streets. While the landscape treatment remains consistent throughout, the routes accommodating higher pedestrian flows benefit from more generous layouts and greater spatial breadth.

The landscape design aims to maximise the presence of the park by extending vegetation well beyond the original boundaries of Astrid Park. The green dimension becomes a continuous green carpet that covers the entire site and plays a defining role in the identity of the new neighbourhood. This green layer carries both ecological and recreational value, essential to providing an attractive and sustainable living environment.

About: The Rives Ardentes eco-district is a redevelopment project transforming a former urban brownfield on the Coronmeuse site in Liège. The first completed buildings, known as Quai 1 and Quai 2 (Buildings A2.1 and A3.1), were designed by Artau architectures. The first residents have already moved in, marking the beginning of a new living dynamic within the neighbourhood.
The buildings’ massing evolved progressively, through close coordination with the developer, the city and all project partners, in order to respond to multiple urban constraints: required clearances, views, solar exposure and the quality of public spaces.
The scale and positioning of the buildings along the dock help structure a clear and legible urban space. They frame the large open expanse of the water basin, whose width varies between thirty and seventy-two metres. The two completed buildings, together with a third currently under construction, form the southern edge of the dock. Their volumes are composed of several built entities, themselves carved out to create breathing spaces and visual permeability.
This composition generates a varied skyline, structured around a dominant continuous three-storey plinth (G+3), punctuated by emerging volumes rising to six and seven storeys (G+6 and G+7). These vertical accents engage in dialogue with the site’s topography, in particular the slag heaps facing the dock.
At ground level, a covered gallery provides access to entrance halls and retail spaces. It creates a sheltered pedestrian route along the water, encouraging social interaction and activating the dockside public realm.
At the rear, the façades adopt a more fragmented architectural language, mediating the transition between the public waterfront and the more domestic heart of the neighbourhood, characterised by individual housing.
Upper floors and garden levels accommodate a wide variety of housing types, responding to diverse lifestyles and fostering residential mix. On the fourth floor of each building, a shared rooftop terrace has been created. This communal space offers residents opportunities to meet, garden and enjoy panoramic views over the Meuse and the city. It complements private terraces and multiplies opportunities for collective appropriation.
The architectural expression is defined by a play of red and black brickwork patterns, echoing the landscapes and industrial heritage of Liège. Generous terraces carve into the volumes, expressing the life and use of interior spaces and giving the ensemble a lively, contemporary identity.