Cities and architecture

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. 

Partners and tutors:  Kieu Nguyen, Séverine Véron, Myrto Redor, Xavier Moens/ architects

Project manager: Stéphane Coulaud

Objectives:
Looking at a city through its architecture. Working with architects, the pupils use inventiveness, technology and history to link architecture and society.

Workshop:
What do the pupils know about their city? Where do they spend their time? Does their territory meet their expectations and needs?

Selecting a controversial development zone (rehabilitation, reallocation, communication networks, development of a ZAC, etc.) Field survey.

After these preliminary investigations, the classes designed a full programme covering all the special features of their city. They then worked on the architectural and town planning part of the project (plans, texts, models, etc.).

Outcome:
Publication of Archi book, a design book which gives an idea of the range of problems the classes encountered. It also complies with architectural codes and the conventions used to present a project for an architectural contest.
In some schools, the teachers organised an exhibition as well as distributing the books.

Outings (selection):
- CITÉ DE L’ARCHITECTURE, EXHIBITION “GARDENING IN THE CITY”
- PAVILLON DE L’ARSENAL, VISIT TO THE EXHIBITION “PARIS AND ITS DEVELOPMENTS”
- VISIT TO THE DESIGN STUDIO “PÉRIPHÉRIQUES ARCHITECTES”

Participating schools: 
- Collège Jean-Jacques-Rousseau, Pré-Saint-Gervais
- Collège Denis-Diderot, Aubervilliers
- Collège Robert-Doisneau, Clichy-sous-Bois
- Collège Albert-Camus, Rosny-sous-Bois

Photo: PIERRE ANTOINE