Lyon: Confluence Phase 1

Highly orchestrated, ambitious, and innovative, the Confluence project forms the southern gateway to Lyon, the second most important city in France. Built across 77 hectares at the southern tip of the peninsula between the Rhône and Saône rivers, this vast transformation has reshaped former industrial and port areas into a thriving contemporary district. By 2025, the development will encompass over one million square meters of new construction or renovated heritage structures, attracting more than 1,100 enterprises, generating 25,000 jobs, and becoming home to 17,000 residents. Originally reclaimed from marshlands through 19th-century landfill operations, the former port is now reconnecting with its natural aquatic origins through landscape projects that highlight the site’s exceptional and unique environmental character. The project’s success empowers the Urban Planning Agency to set high standards for architectural typology, public space design, sustainability, and overall urban quality, drawing internationally renowned architects through numerous global competitions.