The “Éco-cœur de ville” project in Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon aimed to completely redesign the city centre—an area covering 19 hectares—within a sustainable urban development framework. Initiated under the national programme of the same name, the project sought to enhance the centre’s attractiveness while fully addressing environmental and climate-related challenges.

To support this transformation, Van den Berk supplied trees capable of withstanding the stresses of urban conditions, such as summer drought and compacted soils. Selected species included Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Himalayan birch (Betula utilis ‘Jacquemontii’), trident maple (Acer buergerianum), hop hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia), and Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna).

Due to their resilience to heat and drought, aesthetic value, and adaptability to urban settings, these large-calibre trees contributed to the immediate establishment of a green and mature streetscape.

The landscape architecture firm La Compagnie du Paysage, responsible for the design, envisioned a city centre restructured entirely around green infrastructure. The goal was to reconnect the city’s various urban zones while reintroducing nature at the heart of the town on a significant scale.

Rue de la République became the green backbone of the new layout, lined with trees and serving as a connector between several renewed public spaces. Key locations such as Place des Hallettes and Place de la Hêtraie were transformed into pleasant, shaded, and inviting gathering areas.

A notable feature of the project is its proximity to industrial facilities, including the refineries of the Port-Jérôme site. Rather than concealing this infrastructure, the design embraced a visual and spatial dialogue between the city and its industrial landscape. This was achieved through the creation of sightlines and pedestrian links, all while strictly complying with safety regulations applicable in high-risk technological zones. This forward-thinking approach to urban renewal—combining environmental awareness, design innovation, and resilience—was honoured in 2018 with an award at the Défis Urbains, recognising the project as a model of exemplary sustainable urban development.