Rotterdam firm MVRDV has revealed plans to overhaul 600 hectares of Caen, the French city where William the Conqueror built his castle, creating housing, offices and numerous leisure attractions (+ slideshow).

MVRDV is already two years into its La Grande Mosaïque project, which aims to remodel a huge chunk of Caen, the capital of northern France's Lower Normandy region.

The firm plans to tackle issues created by Caen's de-industrialisation ? transforming the expansive area extending down from the city centre to a peninsula sandwiched between the river Orne and a canal running into the sea.

The architects plan to create housing, offices, mixed-use buildings, public spaces and infrastructure, using an urban-planning approach inspired by the region's historic hedgerow landscape.
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Studio co-founder Winy Maas described the project as "aiming for a beautiful urban valley abundant with hedges in the heart of Normandy".

"The masterplan looks to revitalise the area which was formerly home to the heavy industries of Caen that left the local environment scarred by years of pollution," said MVRDV in a statement.

"The project is highly progressive in its scope, ambition and context," it added.
"Not only does it integrate and respect the historic nature of the area but it also unites the city and its neighbouring towns, Hé...