On the afternoon of Thursday 5th of November, the AIVP World Conference will leave the halls of the Dunkirk Palais des Congrès and head out into the field. Whether by bus, on foot or by boat, three tours will take participants on a journey to discover the transformations that make Dunkerque a textbook example of the relationship between city and port.
Whilst the theme of this year’s AIVP World Conference is ‘Cities and Ports in Motion: Time for Action!’, nothing illustrates this motto better than direct contact with the Dunkirk region, where this movement can be seen, measured and experienced first-hand.
The programme includes three tours happening in parallel, which will take place from 2.00 pm to 5.30 pm, and which will allow participants to explore the area from complementary perspectives:
- The first will trace the path of the urban regeneration of the former harbour basins, from the promenade embankment to Pier 1;
- The second will explore an industrial and port complex undergoing radical change, from the eastern harbour to the major construction sites in the western harbour;
- The third will invite participants on a boat trip that reveals, from the water, the day-to-day life of a major seaport.
Discovering Dunkirk’s Port-City Interface: From Landmark Projects to Future Transformations
Begun in the early 1990s, the city’s regeneration of the derelict historic harbour basins has gathered significant momentum in recent years, with a succession of projects ranging from housing and cultural facilities to mixed-use neighbourhoods. The tour will trace the progress of this transformation, from the Palais des Congrès on the seafront promenade to the Halle aux Sucres on Pier 1 of the eastern harbour.
The journey will be by bus, with walking segments offering the chance to explore current and future projects. Four main stops will mark the afternoon’s itinerary.
The Regional Contemporary Art Fund (FRAC)
The FRAC has taken up residence in the former Prefabrication Workshop No. 2 (AP2), an iconic shipyard building, flanked by its translucent twin – sharing the same volume and similar dimensions, but featuring a light, contemporary architectural design by Lacaton & Vassal. The site is situated at the junction of the seaside resort of Malo-les-Bains and the Grand Large district, which is currently under development. From its viewing point, the connection between the beach and the harbour area is perfectly visible. It is in this area, on the Pointe des Alliés, that an ambitious housing programme has begun and a new marina is set to be built.
The Pointe and the Quai de la Cunette
The visit will then run alongside the old ship launching ramps – remnants of the shipbuilding industry – before reaching the Grand Large marina, which is currently being extended. Further on, the Pointe de la Cunette is set to host a mixed-use development, which will include the new museum of fine arts. The quay is lined with the famous gabled buildings, the latest phase of which is currently under construction.
The Citadelle
As the historic heart of the eastern port, the Citadelle district is undergoing a profound transformation. Once home to maritime and port professionals, it is now being redeveloped for the service sector, education, housing and accommodation. On the brownfield site of the former consular hotel, the Dock 28 property development is taking shape, with architecture that echoes the Dock Freycinet complex – situated next to the university campus, whose architectural lines were emblematic of the 1980s. The Port Museum and the Port Center have also taken up residence in a former tobacco warehouse in the neighbourhood.
The Halle aux Sucres
Converted into a community space dedicated to urban issues, the former Halle aux Sucres, at the centre of Pier 1, will be the final stop on this tour. The building houses an interpretation centre dedicated to sustainable cities, the metropolitan urban memory centre, the town planning agency, the local authority departments responsible for planning and development, and a training centre. Its roof terrace offers a superb view of the Citadelle neighbourhood, which we passed through earlier, and of Pier 2. It is here that ÉcosystèmeD has established itself, the beating heart of the region’s transition initiative and the first stage of a development project, the result of consultation between the Metropolitan Authority and the Port.
A Port in Transition: Discover Dunkirk Port’s Development Projects Towards Decarbonization
On this second option, the focus will broaden to encompass the entire industrial and port area. From the historic docks of the eastern port to the major projects in the western port, this bus tour will provide an insight into how Dunkirk combines its port heritage, reindustrialisation, energy transition and quality of life, in an area that is reinventing itself on a massive scale.
This tour will offer a unique insight into one of Europe’s most dynamic industrial and port areas, providing a glimpse today of the port and city of tomorrow, with six key highlights punctuating the afternoon.
The eastern port: blending historic expertise with new dynamics
The tour will begin at the eastern port, taking in the historic docks, specialised quays and industries still in operation. It will also pass through brownfield sites that have been redeveloped to accommodate new projects – a powerful symbol of the synergy taking place in these areas between industrial heritage and future-oriented activities.
Port infrastructure on a new scale
The tour will then head to the western port, where the CAP 2020 development is underway. This project is bringing about a major transformation of the Atlantic basin, notably with the development of a new container terminal designed to accommodate the largest ships.
A region developed for growth
The bus will then travel through the major industrial zone (ZGI) and the DLI logistics zone, before taking the new road and rail links. These developments have been designed to accommodate future businesses and support the growth in traffic flows.
Sectors of excellence looking to the future
From agri-food and electric batteries to data centres and the technologies of tomorrow, participants will be able to gain an insight into the new value chains emerging in Dunkirk, which are revitalising the region’s industrial fabric.
A connected port, committed to decarbonising transport
The tour will then reveal how low-carbon energy, combined road-rail transport, the Seine-Nord Europe Canal and multimodal transport are shaping the corridors of the future, from the energy landscape of Gravelines to the cross-Channel routes to the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Co-ordinated developments to maintain smooth traffic flow
Finally, participants will have the opportunity to understand how the city and the port are working together to accommodate more jobs and traffic flows without causing congestion in the area. Access routes, public transport, soft mobility and car-sharing are being planned jointly to support this growth.
Dunkirk Port from East to West: Industrial Heritage, Modern Port and Industrial Transition
The third option will offer a complete change of perspective, as participants will discover the Port of Dunkirk from the water. Aboard the Plucket, this cruise will take participants from the eastern port to the western port, bringing them up close to the structures, ships and terminals that keep the port alive.
This maritime tour, structured around six segments, will allow participants to experience the full power of an industrial and maritime port, connected to the world and looking to the future.
Port infrastructure and port jobs
The cruise will begin by focusing on the behind-the-scenes workings of the port. Lookouts, pilots, tugboats and mooring crew: the role of each of these professions – the links in the chain that guide ships to the quayside – will be explained as we sail along. Ship repair facilities will also be visible, before we experience one of the afternoon’s highlights: passing through a lock during a lock passage.
Quays suited to all types of traffic
The Plucket will then sail alongside quays dedicated to dry and liquid bulk, cereals, steel products and conventional cargo – different specialities that reflect the diversity of Dunkirk’s port expertise.
New activities in reinvented spaces
Further on, the cruise will offer a glimpse of how the port is breathing new life into its derelict sites to open up new horizons, whether through the handling of new vehicles, subsea cables or, in the future, sustainable aviation fuel.
The Channel crossing in full swing
The boat will then approach the ferry terminals and the vessels that connect Dunkirk daily to Dover, England and Rosslare, Ireland, to observe and understand the characteristics of this vital network.
At the foot of the giants of the western harbour
In the western harbour, the scale of the scene will change dramatically. Facing the giant container ships, large bulk carriers and LNG tankers, the full international scope of the port of Dunkirk will be revealed.
CAP 2020: the port of the future seen from the water
The final highlight of the cruise is the extraordinary CAP 2020 construction site, which will be revealed from the water. It is here that Dunkirk’s second container terminal is being built.
Which of the three tours should you choose?
Each of the three itineraries caters to different interests:
- Are you interested in urban planning, architecture or the regeneration of port areas? The ‘Discovering Dunkirk’s Port-City Interface’ tour will take you to the heart of the new neighbourhoods reclaiming the former docks.
- Are you focusing on the challenges of economic development, logistics or the energy transition? The ‘A port in transition’ tour will showcase these dynamics across the entire industrial and port complex.
- Would you like to understand and learn more about how a port operates from the inside, up close to the ships and the various trades? The cruise ‘Dunkirk Port from East to West’ will give you a front-row seat.
Whatever you choose, the afternoon of November brings the Conference’s theme to life on the ground, with a city and a port in motion, advancing together. These visits will be a rich source of learning and inspiration, enabling you to play your own part.
