Sensitive boundary

Since 2009, the Seine-Saint-Denis County Council has been backing “la Culture et l’Art au Collège (CAC)”. This project is based to a large extent on the presence in class for several weeks (40h) of an artist or scientist whose mission is to engage the students in a process of research and creation.  

Tutors: Paul Citron,Maïté Verdol/ PhD students in geography, Federica Gatta, architect and PhD student in the “Architecture and Anthropology” unit, Alondra Topete-Pozas, architect and PhD student in Town Planning and Space Development

Project manager: Anna Mezey

Objectives: 
Seine-Saint-Denis and Paris have a common boundary between Noisy-le-Grand and Saint-Ouen: a few kilometres of ring road which is only too happy to “talk” if it is asked the right questions. Guided by geographers and using geographical tools, the pupils were given the task of making us familiar with this rather special social and physical environment.

Workshop: 
Learn to see
The pupils were introduced to the ideas of “urban atmosphere and urban time.” At the same time, they learned how to read maps, interpret aerial photos and navigate on Google Earth. They became familiar with some of the main tools and methods they would need.

iPads and fieldwork
Each class was equipped with iPads and they learned to use the applications in class with their tutor (camera, dictaphone, GPS, ArcGis, Infoterre, etc.). They drew up a survey questionnaire and then went into the field to find out how people feel about the ring road.

Pooling data
Back in class, the pupils discussed the observations they had made in the field. The main idea was to clarify and explain the organisation of a space, especially the type of exchanges and relationships existing on this boundary.

Outcome:
As part of the CAC 2011-2012 program, F93 opened a website called “An Ordinary Border” showing the ring road as seen and analysed by the pupils in Seine-Saint-Denis. F93 continued the venture, asking the classes to add the texts, photos and comments they had produced this year. (www.frontiere-ordinaire.fr)

Outings (selection):
- PAVILLON DE L’ARSENAL. GUIDED TOUR OF THE NEW PERMANENT EXHIBITION “PARIS, THE METROPOLIS AND ITS PROJECTS.”
- MUSÉE D’ORSAY. GUIDED TOUR OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTION ON THE THEME “CHANGES IN THE CITY SEEN THROUGH THE IMPRESSIONISTS.”
- MAC/VAL. GUIDED TOUR IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTIONS ON THE THEME “URBAN SCIENCE FICTION.”

Participating schools :
- Class (3rd), Collège Denis Diderot, Aubervilliers
- Special class, Collège Georges Braque, Neuilly-sur-Marne
- Class (4th), Collège Jacques Prévert, Noisy-le-Sec
- Class (4th), Collège Jean de Beaumont, Villemomble