Weekend, rich in discussions around biodiversity in the city, organized by Yves Emo and bringing together professionals and experts on the subject of biodiverstity
At La Rougellerie, Loir et Cher, Chaumont-sur-Tharonne, William Van Gelderen Plannier and Philippe Bouteyre (Praxilience) presented the device they designed to take biodiversity seriously in the context of neighborhood planning. This system uses innovative concepts taught by the Msc Design and Strategy for the Anthropocene carried by ESC Clermont Business School and Strate, Ecole de Design de Lyon and directed by Alexandre Monnin. It was tested as part of their ecological redirection project for ARP Astrance on the subject of new construction in Ile de France.
The Anthropocene as a framework and starting point for ecological redirection
The Master of Science “Strategy & Design for the Anthropocene” is the first training in the world with an operational aim that takes the Anthropocene as its framework and starting point. This master trains in ecological redirection. It is based on the design approach, which
is based on the inquiry process. The concept of the Anthropocene designates a new geological epoch marked by the consequences of human activities. Climate change and the erosion of biodiversity are markers of this epoch. Ecological redirection starts from the observation that approaches such as green growth, sustainable development or CSR are outdated. The “redirectionists” therefore help
companies and institutions to imagine new strategies to align with planetary boundaries. This means taking into account the ecological and climatic constraints linked to the Anthropocene. Even if it means closing certain activities that threaten the habitability of the Earth.
An investigation process that pays attention to a plurality of visions on issues to be discovered
Design is green redirection, which is inquiry. This is in order to better understand the uncertainties of human and non-human actors. Through the investigation, it is above all a question, starting from the reality on the ground, of paying attention to a plurality of visions on the issues that are to be discovered. It is about shedding light on blind spots, making attachments visible, highlighting antagonisms and complementarities. In practice, the survey work requires carrying out interviews and bibliographic research. It requires absorbing all of these elements with a time of reflection and maturation before being able to render in the form that best allows us to move forward.
An investigation into the cessation of new construction in Ile de France.
Arp Astrance is an agency specializing in the field of real estate. It is made up of 4 poles, one of which specializes in biodiversity. It is therefore for this agency that William and Philippe are investigating the stoppage of new construction in Ile de France. In this survey, taking biodiversity into account is a key element. This is for several reasons: first, to reduce the impact outside the city by limiting urban sprawl. Urban densification is therefore an important lever. Because it makes it possible to limit the impacts on biodiversity. But it contains perverse effects. Indeed, densification can strengthen the impact on urban biodiversity. The collapse of biodiversity is taking place in natural environments as well as in cities. There is therefore a risk of adaptation to climate change. For this reason, it is essential to find new approaches to take biodiversity into account in urban development.
A device to take seriously all the actors and their human or non-human modes of making sense
The workshop device designed by William and Philippe allows precisely this to be taken into account. Indeed its principle is that of a role-playing game and design fiction at the same time. In addition, it is a question of making people think about the development of a district by placing oneself in a future framework and by borrowing specific roles, some of which may seem unusual : the mayor, the real estate renovator, the tit, the buildings, future generations. It is therefore an invitation to take seriously all the actors and their modes of production of meaning, whether they are humans or non-humans. Even if it may seem irrational at first glance. The prospective framework allows the debates to take place over a long period of time, which is relevant for developing a neighborhood. This has been successfully tested with the Arp Astrance board of directors.
William and Philippe plan to continue to develop this type of device. They wish to offer it by adapting it to communities that would like to experiment this approach. If interested contact them directly.