Perhaps a village nestled within a city is the best way to describe Cit\u00e9 des Jardins. D\u00e9livrance is more than just a neighborhood in Lomme. It is a true small village within the city. This garden city has been dedicated to railway workers since 1921.
In 1921 the Compagnie du chemin de fer du Nord and the State decided to build this complex. It was designed to contain 835 houses. After the damage of World War I, the northern railway network was in poor condition.
The Compagnie des chemins de fer du Nord decided to establish a new large shunting station. It would be accompanied by a railway workers’ city. This was to the west of Lille in Lomme. The company entrusted engineer Raoul Dautry with the task of designing the complex.
Dautry adopted the ideas of utopian urban planner Ebenezer Howard. Howard wrote “Garden Cities of Tomorrow” in 1898. It developed his ideas for a new city in the form of garden cities. A flexible plan emerged on 69 hectares bordering the railway tracks. It resembled English-style parks.
Circular squares accommodated facilities. Curved streets welcomed housing amidst foliage and gardens. In one year 835 houses were built. They were accompanied by facilities. These allowed for an autonomous life separate from the city. Around 4000 inhabitants from all social levels of the company lived here.
The company’s paternalistic side was emphasized. The city was created in the interest of service. It ensured good physical condition by avoiding time wasted. This prevented employees traveling at inconvenient hours. Public transport was slow or nonexistent at these times. The railway company decided to house its employees and families near their workplace.
The houses were detached or grouped. Each benefited from a garden of 400 to 500 m2. There were no boundary walls. They had four to six rooms with remarkable comfort for the time. They included running water electricity and indoor sanitation.
The architecture was varied and well-cared for. It featured a regionalist style from Breton to Basque. Eight renowned architects oversaw the project. Primary and nursery schools a domestic science school and a community hall were added. A music kiosk a health center bathhouses an open-air swimming pool tennis courts and a stadium were included. There was also a cinema an economat and shops.
These punctuated the ensemble. They created places for life and encounters in a peaceful and high-quality setting. Bombardments in 1944 destroyed half of the Cit\u00e9 des Jardins. It was rebuilt identically by the SNCF. The SNCF was created after the war to nationalize the railway companies.
Then densification occurred. New brick houses and a small collective were built. The first homes were not well maintained. In the 1990s the SNCF disengaged. It passed the baton to social landlords the city of Lomme and the M\u00e9tropole.
Today the struggle continues between recognizing this unique heritage and making decisions about demolition and reconstruction. The opening of the Maison Folie Beaulieu in the old community hall in 2009 was a pacifying event for Cit\u00e9 des Jardins. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of community. It shows the power of innovative urban planning.