Objectives
This final-year project course supports students in a process of regular collaboration, throughout the semester, with residents’ groups identified by the tutors, with the APPUII association, or proposed by the students themselves. The sites are mainly located in working-class suburbs, with varying scales and programmes depending on the timeframe of the proposed situations (architectural/urban/housing/facilities).

The resident groups involved have expectations regarding the sites. The challenge will be to address genuine social needs by drawing on the architect’s expertise (listening to requests, analysing the existing context, developing design alternatives) to foster collaboration. Regular on-site presence is essential to implement ‘outreach’ collaboration initiatives : field surveys, workshops with residents, and experiments with local stakeholders. The project adopts an approach that equips the groups to make their case to institutional stakeholders, capable of continuing beyond the final year project.

The proposals will offer realistic and sustainable alternatives to current urban development, particularly that of the ANRU neighbourhoods, the impact of which is disputed. These alternatives are based on research and established architectural practices.

Themes addressed
– Design of ‘sustainable’ housing, which combines the economic and environmental challenges of any intervention on existing structures with the challenges of social acceptability through an in situ project approach ;
– A ‘shared’ design approach, in which site analysis, spatial solutions and technical choices are presented and developed in collaboration with residents’ groups ;
– Design “engaged” in a critical examination of the contemporary city, which questions the approaches and effects of current urban policy and explores familiar concepts : user comfort, the quality of spaces, the sharing of communal areas, and the emotional connection between architecture and residents to the built environment and services.

Process
The project is structured in three stages :
– Stage 1 (March–April) : joint assessment, based on site visits, interviews with community groups and institutional stakeholders (local authorities, funders, etc.), and on-site workshops prepared during sessions at the school ;
– Phase 2 (April–May) : development of project scenarios, tailored to expectations, the site’s timeframe and the interplay of stakeholders, with further workshops ;
– Phase 3 (May–June) : finalisation of proposals for presentation to the final-year project jury and feedback to residents’ groups, at conventional scales.

Examples of sites
Saint-Ouen (migrant workers’ hostel) ; Aubervilliers (Cité Émile Dubois, La Rotonde shopping centre, Le Fort) ; Vaulx-en-Velin (Cités Tase) ; Vitry (Le Mail) ; Plaisir (Île de Villabou) ; Gentilly (green block) ; L’Alma Gare (Roubaix)

Teaching team
Guillaume Baron, lead tutor
Valentina Moimas, co-tutor