Location

Located between the Mediterranean and the Grands Causses regional park, Lodève is a historic, spiritual and administrative centre. Positioned at the confluence of the Lergue and Soulondres, the town is surrounded by hills overlooking the vast limestone landscapes of southern Larzac. The priority urban neighborhood is the old town centre, with the addition, since the beginning of 2024, of the Premerlet urban development zone.

History

The earliest mention of Lodève is in Pliny the Elder’s Natural History, which cites Luteva in a list of the oppida latina of Gaul. The Gallo-Roman city would have benefitted from Roman law and the title of colony from the reign of Augustus, which led to its rapid development. The assertion of episcopal power resulted in the emancipation of the town in the Middle Ages. The Archdiocese of Lodève has been documented since the fifth century. The bishops of Lodève, the spiritual leaders of the diocese, gradually built up real power at the expense of the lay lords, characterized by one particularly charismatic figure, Bishop Fulcran (949–1006).

In 1573, during the Wars of Religion, Lodève was seized and pillaged by the Protestants. In 1726, Cardinal de Fleury, a native of Lodève and Prime Minister under Louis XV, awarded the town a monopoly on the supply of cloth for the royal troops, thereby ensuring its prosperity, which continued until the height of the textile industry in the mid-19th century. The monopoly on cloth for the troops had a significant impact along the Lergue, with the development of numerous factories. The lodévois textile industry subsequently declined, experiencing a series of crises between the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, culminating with the closure of the last factory in 1960.

Orientations

The project site

The scope of the proposed study follows the Soulondres and Lergue rivers, incorporating existing areas of municipal land into the scope of development. On the Soulondres, the site begins at the swimming pool and high school, and follows the river, incorporating the riverside neighborhoods, as far as the confluence. On the Lergue, the boundary runs from the Guiraud building to the north, separating Lodève from Soumont, to near the Moulinages factory in the south.

Initial ideas for programming

The main objective of the project is to transform the riverbanks of the Lergue and the Soulondres into a major new public space for the residents of Lodève, providing areas for leisure and relaxation, accessible to all, that will also serve as cooling islands to help with the challenges of climate change. The highlight of the project will be the ‘Confluence’, designed as a family bathing area.

Boasting an exceptional landscape, the riverbanks constitute an ideal site for quality housing. A number of riverside plots are therefore available for building, maintaining a relationship with the urban grid of the old centre. Two plots (Hortus and Triumph) are designated for the construction of around 25 housing units, of which a part could be allocated to older couples or to new arrivals.

For a number of years, Lodève has been taking a proactive approach to ecological transition (solar energy production on the COGEMA site, halving the energy consumption of municipal facilities). In this respect, development of the riverbanks presents a new opportunity: the possible development of hydroelectric production using micro-turbines on the Caumes Canal, old boat factory and Moulin du Canal sites.

Finally, it has been decided to incorporate a new auditorium into the Confluence cultural centre in the old centre in order to develop the cultural programming that is lacking in the area.

The ambitions of the project

The linear nature of the two rivers has structured the town and its development, yet these two elements function today by turning their backs on each other. The ambition of the project is to transform this linear feature into a link between the different neighborhoods by giving it life. For example, at the confluence between the two rivers sits the hill on which once stood the castle of the lords of Lodève. Linked to the Soulondres by a path, the site covers an area of 1.5 hectares (municipal land), which dominates the old centre and offers views over the wider landscape. Development of the riverbanks also provides an opportunity to create pedestrian and cycle routes to interlink neighborhoods. Ford crossings need to be built. Occasional parking places could also be made along the riverbanks at strategic points to take the pressure off spaces in the old centre.

A real ecological corridor, recent studies have shown that the riverbanks are home to an extremely rich biodiversity. The forthcoming developments must fully integrate this aspect. As the rivers are prone to violent flooding, an approach that fully integrates flood risk and offers some resilience must take precedence in the design of developments (evacuation and closure of carparks, resident and user information, etc.).

Finally, the development project must provide leverage for the continued development of employment and a local industry based on ecological renovation and recycled materials. Several companies have already been identified (wood, dry-stone, bio-sourced materials, etc.). The Entreprise à But d’Emploi initiative (social economy businesses created to make jobs for local residents who have been excluded from the job market) could be implemented in this.

• How can the complex topography and geography of the riverbanks be turned into assets to develop and connect the sites likely to boost the area’s appeal and development? 
• How can a priority urban neighborhood be transformed by the redevelopment of its green spaces? 
• How can a scheme be developed to withstand adverse climatic phenomena while ensuring long-term use? 
• How can the development be approached not as a static space, but as a living space that will evolve and grow through the seasons and over years, notably in terms of biodiversity? What measures should be used to monitor the environmental quality of the site in the years following completion? 
• How do you plan and design a multi-use cultural facility in the middle of a priority urban neighborhood?