This place looks like the future, but it has a past that is rarely discussed. It shows that even the most futuristic cities have their roots in history.

It is one of the largest urban development projects in 21st-century France. However, before the modern buildings were erected here, the area was an industrial zone with warehouses, prisons, and marshy, waterlogged terrain.

The revitalization began around 2000 and aimed to “reclaim” the area between the Rhône and the Saône. Today, the district is a symbol of both ecology—the air is crisp here, and the sun reflects off the water—and modern architecture. Glass office towers, loft-style residential buildings, and creative coworking spaces create a unique landscape along the river.