Lyon Riverside District
Aurora Civic Center
Budget
€ 185 Million
Time span
2024 – 2028
Size
48,500 m²
Client
City of Lyon Development Authority
Status
Under Construction
Location
Lyon, France
Type
Cultural Complex, Public Plaza, Mixed-use
Partner in charge
Elena Moretti
Our vision for the Aurora Civic Center transforms Lyon’s historic riverfront into a dynamic cultural destination. Positioned at the intersection of heritage and innovation, the project reconnects the city to the Rhône through a layered composition of public terraces, performance halls, and open civic spaces.
The design integrates contemporary architecture with contextual materials inspired by the surrounding industrial past. A series of elevated walkways and transparent façades create visual continuity between the river, the plaza, and the city beyond. Sustainability is embedded throughout the project, with passive cooling strategies, photovoltaic roofing, and green terraces that enhance biodiversity while reducing energy demand.
Aurora Civic Center is conceived not merely as a building, but as an evolving urban platform for art, dialogue, and collective experience.
Technical Precision
Our first-completed tower has an unexpected appearance. Slender and curvaceous, with flowing lines, our new building softens the urban landscape with its sinuous contours and a vibrant mixed-use space.
Inspired by Context
The project draws inspiration from Lyon’s industrial heritage and riverfront geometry. Structural arches reinterpret historic warehouse forms, while the material palette — limestone, brushed steel, and timber — establishes a dialogue between permanence and modernity.
