Publications
Function and Form in Territorial Planning: The Case of Lens in the Mining Basin in Nord and Pas-de-Calais – France
Lens, France, underwent significant territorial transformation from the 1960s to 1990, shifting its economic focus from mining and textile production to cultural and tourist activities. This study highlights how state planning, EU policies, and collaboration with private and civil entities reshaped Lens's urban space, introducing new functions like a Louvre Museum branch while re-signifying older structures. The research reflects on these spatial transformations during the transition from industrial capitalism to globalization, emphasizing the interplay between form and function in territorial reconversion.
The UNESCO evolving and living heritage of the Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin
The Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012, exemplifies the innovative concept of an 'organically evolved and continuing cultural landscape.' This designation reflects its dynamic post-industrial transformation following the closure of coal mines in 1990. The study highlights the challenges and opportunities in managing such living heritage, which remains inhabited and continues to evolve, contrasting with traditional conservative approaches. It underscores the need for adaptive conservation strategies that balance preservation with ongoing change, offering a model for similar post-mining landscapes globally.
“POST-MINING REALITY” in Western Europe: Selected Collieries in Belgium and France Following Discontinuation of Coal Mining
Former coal mining sites in Belgium and France, once central to industrial development, now serve as valuable brownfields with significant adaptation potential. A study analyzing post-mining facilities—such as C-Mine (Genk), Bois du Cazier (Marcinelle), Delloye (Lewarde), and Dourges (Oignies)—revealed their contemporary practical significance, spatial role, and impact on regional identity preservation. Conducted through field research in 2017, the study diagnosed challenges and opportunities in repurposing these sites, offering insights for evaluating post-mining transformations across Europe.
Regional identity and industrial heritage in the mining area of Nord-Pas-de-Calais
The Nord-Pas-de-Calais Mining Basin has long been perceived as a symbol of industrial decline, marked by economic and social challenges and stark landscapes. However, recent research reveals that the region also serves as a powerful bearer of regional identity, reflecting a positive local culture celebrated in popular media like the film Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis. This study highlights how early associations, such as the Committee for Industrial Archaeology (founded 1979), emerged to champion industrial heritage, while political bodies, including the Socialist-led regional council under Daniel Percheron, leveraged heritage initiatives like the Louvre-Lens project. The research combines historical analysis with cultural and economic assessments to demonstrate how the basin's identity transcends its industrial past, offering a nuanced perspective on its legacy.
L’industrie versus patrimonialisation : questionnement autour d’une transition vers une économie culturelle
A shift from depatrimonialisation to patrimonialisation is underway in post-industrial landscapes, exemplified by the Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin. Initially, deindustrialization led to societal, economic, and landscape decline, with industrial heritage being rejected. However, a gradual revaluation has transformed these wastelands into symbols of history and revitalization. This study examines this transition process, highlighting how former extractive sites, once seen as failures, now serve as cultural and economic assets. The research focuses on the Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012, to explore the dynamics of industrial patrimonialisation and its potential for sustainable development.
You are here:
World Heritage Explorer > World Heritage Research > World Heritage Sites > Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin