(Re)branding the Flon identity: A Swiss Youth Embassy_Flon ... - EPFL

Topographical evolution
Lausanne is an example of a city that grew around its center; very often considered by its almost primitive
nature: the “Cité Seule” or centrum in the larger sense. One can also see the desire to define even more
the center by its two symmetrical routes, the cité devant and the cité derrière.
In the first half of the 1800’s, the Ceinture Pichard (“the Pichard Ring”) road was established which would
link the center city to routes leading in and out of Lausanne. In the development of the city, there had always
been a tendency to construct in a perpendicular sense to its valleys, almost neglecting their existance
with the various bridges that would begin to be built such as the Grand Pont, the Pont Bessieres, and the
Pont Chauderon. Valleys, at that time, were reserved for the artisans and the industrial work that took place
within the city.
As the main train station of Lausanne was built just below the Flon valley merchandise hub, the industry that
had been built up by J. Mercier slowly began to lose its importance and became a place that served more
as a link between Lausanne and Ouchy on the port.
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