City-Level Decoupling-Case Studies

To reduce reliance on private cars, Vauban was designed to be a district of short distances. A combination of public transport (buses and a tram line completed in 2006), a car sharing scheme, and shortening distances between residential areas and local amenities.Two considerable incentives help reduce car use: the parking-free residential streets and the car-free living scheme. In the parking-free residential streets, cars are only allowed for the loading and unloading of goods and the speed limit is restricted to 30 km per hour. These regulations, originally planned for three residential streets, were extended to large parts of the second and third building sections of the district. Visitors can park on the main street or in the two garages on the outskirts of the district. Car owners living in the parking-free areas are expected to use the parking lots located in the district garages at a cost of approximately € 20,000 (approximately US$26,000). If residents of the parking-free areas choose not to own a car, they sign a contract and become part of the car-free living scheme, paying a single fee of around € 3,700 (approximately US$4,850). Regional legislation allows for the provision of car parking spaces to be separate from housing projects, but this is seldom implemented. Vauban’s approach to traffic management is innovative in the scale at which the reduced car concept has been applied. 38

The "solar ship" mixed use building in Vauban's solar settlement. (Source: author, Gabriela Weber de Morais, 2009)

To make housing more affordable, co-building groups were formed and four old army barracks were renovated by a group of future residents. Representatives of each co-building group met regularly under the coordination of Forum Vauban to discuss technical questions, and to support each other. 39 Many of the trees that have been preserved and the five green areas between residential streets were planned in community workshops. 40 A ditch system was designed to channel rainwater, allowing it to soak into the soil and regenerate ground water. 41 Organic and locally-grown food is also widely available for purchase in the weekly farmers' market and in the neighborhood co-operative organic food shop.

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