Fort De Buc Eco-District

The Fort de Buc fort is located by the northern edge of the Plateau de Saclay, perched in the hills above the municipality of Buc and overlooking the Bièvre Valley. The site is part of the regional landscape that our firm knows well, joining a growing list of area projects including the Plateau de Saclay, the Versailles Pion, and the Étangs Gobert.

The Fort was built in 1879 and later abandoned in the 1990s. Today, a thick native forest has regrown throughout the space, the multitude of species cultivating a lush hub of biodiversity in need of preservation. The 14-hectare Fort site inhabits the meeting point between several distinct landscapes and topographies, its rich architectural and natural heritage creating a wide variety of environments.

Planned residential buildings intended for mixed-use urban development are concentrated in the northern and eastern areas of the site. This new Buc neighborhood features low-rise constructions, structured and distinct paths for pedestrian, cyclist, and motor traffic, public spaces for area residents, local businesses and shops, and small community facilities.

The project site calls for simple composition: a rustic style with cohesive and understated materials, prioritizing surfacing that’s easily repaired or replaced. Both of the neighborhood’s urban public spaces feature paving stones with grass joints. All paths are low-impact, designed with the ground and existing trees in mind.

The Fort moats, an important feature of the site’s architectural heritage, are revived and transformed into a promenade open to the public. The resulting kilometer-long, landscaped promenade is a celebration of the fort’s architectural heritage. A manicured lawn stretching before the structure highlights existing archways.

The ruderal woodland is thoughtfully sculpted, shaping a dialogue of open and dense spaces. Resulting clearings are linked using paths surfaced with lightweight aggregate or slats. In other areas, existing plant cover is bolstered. Acer, Corylus, and Tilia plants expand existing species composition, while Fraxinus and Salix plants are added in areas more prone to wetland conditions.

Habitat-specific management practices are put in place throughout this rich mix of environments. The Bièvre Valley and its wooded, rolling riverbanks provide the perfect opportunity to create landscape corridors.