Publications
Le cas des rues piétonnières du Vieux-Lyon (Rhône) dans les années 1970
The piétonnisation of streets in Vieux-Lyon during the late 1970s, while primarily aimed at enhancing architectural heritage, inadvertently marginalized the street paving—a key element of urban patrimony. This study reveals how the reimagining of central streets as 'period' thoroughfares, though intended to serve the built environment, failed to recognize or preserve local paving traditions, which were later replaced by standardized designs. The research highlights a selective approach to patrimonialization, where street features were subsumed under the prioritization of architectural integrity, leading to the erasure of distinct Lyonese paving practices by the 1980s.
The Aqueducts of Lugdunum
Lyon's aqueducts, built between 20 BCE and the early decades of Lugdunum (modern-day Lyon), represent an extraordinary engineering feat for their time. These four aqueducts, equipped with nine inverted siphons, were designed to overcome deep or wide valleys, ensuring a reliable water supply for one of Gaul's largest cities. The study highlights the significance of Dr. Jean Burdy's long-term research, which uncovered and preserved these ancient structures through meticulous investigation of historical records and physical remains. Today, Lyon, with over a million inhabitants, stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, partly due to its 2000-year-old urban architecture, including these remarkable aqueducts. This work not only sheds light on Roman engineering but also underscores the importance of preserving such heritage for future generations.
Compréhension expérimentale et numérique des chemins de l'eau sur l'ensemble du champ captant de la Métropole de Lyon
A study on the Historic Site of Lyon reveals that artificial recharge basins, used to create hydraulic barriers for contamination protection, only maintain their effect for 1-2 days after cessation. This finding underscores the transient nature of such protective measures and highlights the need for continuous monitoring. The research employed a multi-faceted approach combining in-situ observations, experimental infiltration tests, thermal tracing, and 3D hydro-thermal modeling to characterize groundwater flow and heat transfer within Lyon's 375-ha aquifer system. Key insights include the identification of an infiltrability index that tracks basin performance over time, revealing progressive clogging due to sand layer compaction. The study also confirmed the presence of unsaturated zones and complex 3D flow dynamics beneath the Vieux-Rhône river, providing critical data for managing water resources under potential climate change scenarios.
Imagining an Old City in Nineteenth-Century France: Urban Renovation, Civil Society, and the Making of Vieux Lyon
Nineteenth-century urban renovations in Lyon, driven by state initiatives under the Second Empire, inadvertently sparked a localist movement that sought to preserve the city's distinctive, antiquarian architectural heritage. This study reveals that cultural elites in Lyon used antiquarian discourse to assert that the city's narrow, crooked streets were integral to its identity, fearing their erasure by Parisian influences. Contrary to traditional narratives focusing on state-led urban transformations, this research highlights the role of civil society and antiquarian history as modern phenomena shaping urban development. The analysis combines urban history with cultural studies to illustrate how local pride and anxiety drove the preservation movement that gave rise to Vieux Lyon.
Analyse spatio-temporelle de la morphologie du chenal du Rhône du Léman à la Méditerranée
A century-long incision of the Rhône River's channel, driven primarily by channelization and hydroelectric dams, has significantly altered sediment dynamics and river morphology. This study reveals that while these modifications have led to paving and fine sediment storage in certain sections, residual mobility of bedload persists during major floods. Key findings include the compartmentalization of the river continuum due to dams, which traps sediments in reservoirs and promotes paving downstream of Lyon. The research integrates bathymetric data from 1897–2010 with granulometric samples from over 300 sites, using a standardized sampling protocol to assess bedload mobility, tributary inputs, and the impact of structures on sediment transport conditions. These insights support recommendations for sustainable river management, such as adjusting dam operations and gravel reinjection, aimed at ecological restoration.
Lyon (Rhône). Vieux-Lyon
A historic building, known as the 'maison du chamarier,' located in the heart of Vieux-Lyon near the Cathedral Saint-Jean-Baptiste, has been recognized for its architectural significance. This structure, comprising three L-shaped buildings with three to four stories that open onto a southern courtyard, was designated a Monument historique in 1943. Adjacent to it is another more recent building also listed as a historic monument, together forming a complete urban block. The study highlights the architectural and historical importance of this ensemble, which reflects the urban development and preservation efforts in Lyon, France.
Alban Horry, Poteries de Lyon 1500-1850 - Morceaux choisis du quotidien à Saint-Georges
Archaeological excavations at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lyon, conducted between 2002 and 2004 during the construction of Parc Saint-Georges, uncovered the largest collection of post-medieval ceramics in the city. This exceptional assemblage, discarded by residents along the Saône River, provides unprecedented insight into the evolution of everyday pottery from the 16th to the 19th century. The findings reveal shifts in ceramic production, design, and usage, reflecting broader socio-economic changes during this period. The study, led by Alban Horry of Inrap, combines detailed ceramic analysis with historical context to offer a comprehensive view of Lyon's material culture.
Bibliographie
A comprehensive bibliography of Lyon's urban history and growth, focusing on the evolution of its neighborhoods, particularly the Vieux-Lyon. The compilation includes key works from the 19th century, such as studies by Authier J.-Y., Bailleux de Marisy A., Barillon, and Beroujon C., which shed light on Lyon's financial history, public works, and architectural transformations. Notably, Barillon's work details the regeneration of the Boucherie des Terreaux district and the construction of significant edifices, providing valuable insights into urban development strategies of the era. The bibliography serves as a foundational resource for understanding Lyon's historical growth and its enduring impact on the city's landscape.
La recuperación y revalorización del patrimonio industrial en Lyon (Francia). La intervención en Port Rambaud
The urban renewal project Lyon Confluence successfully revitalized the industrial heritage site Port Rambaud, transforming it into a vibrant cultural and social hub. The intervention preserved key industrial buildings like La Sucrière and Les Salins while integrating modern architecture by Rudy Ricciotti and Odile Decq, along with public spaces designed by Lantz und Partners to enhance connectivity with the river Saône. The project's integration of the Biennale of Contemporary Art Lyon further boosted cultural dynamism, creating a new urban centrality rooted in industrial memory. This case study demonstrates how heritage conservation can be effectively combined with contemporary urban development and cultural programming.
Les milieux fluviaux et humides en ville, du déni à la reconnaissance de paysages urbains historiques
Urban water landscapes, once marginalized, now hold significant cultural and ecological value, reflecting a shift from historical neglect to modern patrimonialization. This study identifies the evolving societal relationships with fluvial and wetland environments in Western cities over the past four decades, highlighting their transition into coveted heritage assets. Using a geohistorical, diachronic approach, researchers analyzed multiple cities in the Paris Basin (Amiens, Bourges, Châlons-en-Champagne, Évreux, Orléans, Tours, Troyes) to theorize temporal and spatial dynamics of water-related urban landscapes. Findings reveal that these environments are intrinsically linked to urban heritage, shaped by historical processes and sociocultural conditions. The study underscores the growing civic appreciation for water landscapes, paralleled by urban development projects aimed at aesthetic and functional requalification.
Lyon 5e (Rhône). 8, rue Saint-Jean
Rénovation work on a building in Lyon's historic district revealed architectural plans typical of the area, featuring two residential structures aligned along a narrow parcel. The buildings, measuring approximately 25.5 meters in length and 8 meters in width, do not span the entire block, offering insights into urban planning in the Vieux Lyon sector. This discovery highlights the consistent design patterns observed in this preserved region.
News and Views January 2014
Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, is recognized for its unique horizontal urban development that preserves structures from Roman times to the present. The city's historical significance as the capital of the silk trade and France's gastronomic hub was highlighted during the 2014 European Nuclear Medicine Congress, which took place there. The congress featured discussions on radiopeptide therapy and dosimetry, including the imminent introduction of radium-223 chloride (Xofiga), an alpha particle-emitting radiopharmaceutical for treating castration-resistant prostate cancer. This marks a significant advancement in molecular radiotherapy, addressing previous challenges such as limited gamma emissions from daughter products. The congress also addressed regulatory hurdles, such as the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) focus on centrally licensed products and the need for harmonized clinical trials processes. Additionally, it covered the approval of amyloid imaging agents like florbetapir and flutemetamol, which are subject to restrictive indications for use.
Parametric Generator for Architectural and Urban 3D Objects
A specialized parametric generator tool has been developed to model the global structure of architectural and urban objects, focusing on their morphological and semantic characteristics. This approach was successfully applied to the 'Vieux Lyon' district, known for its diverse morpho-stylistic features. The tool aims not to create a universal model but to provide a simple, efficient method for describing standard architectural objects that adhere to specific parametric definitions. Future enhancements will broaden its descriptive capabilities, accommodating even more varied morphological and stylistic patterns.
Nouvelles faunes de rongeurs (Mammalia, Rodentia) d'âge miocène moyen en Languedoc-Roussillon (Sud de la France) ; biostratigraphie et corrélations
Newly discovered Middle Miocene rodent fossils from two sites in southern France, Blanquatère 3 and Puisserguier, provide critical insights for biostratigraphic correlations. These findings refine the chronological framework of the region, positioning Blanquatère 3 as slightly older than Vieux-Collonges and both older than La Grive. Additionally, the presence of the genus Cricetodon in these sites allows for revisited correlations with well-known localities from the Lyon area. The study leverages detailed analysis of fossil-bearing levels interstratified within marine to brackish-lake deposits, dating Blanquatère 3 to approximately 15.5 million years ago and Puisserguier to around 14 million years ago. These age estimates align with the Serravallian stage, enhancing our understanding of the Miocene chronostratigraphy in this region.
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