This year in the process of preparing the 42nd international workshop in the Paris Region, we reached out students around Europe to brainstorm about the subject: “Inhabit! Cohabit! Reinhabit! Metamorphosis of habitat in response to the ecological and social emergency”.

Through the European university network EUTOPIA, we gathered a team of 7 students from different countries and fields of study. Our brilliant team members were Taja from Slovenia, Klara from Sweden, Sarah from the United Kingdom, Kashvi from India, Jan from Belgium, Haadi from the UK and Vic from Slovenia. They all have different academic backgrounds, including medicine, geography, biology, foreign languages and history. This diversity made for a rather interesting and enjoyable exchange within the team.

Led by les Ateliers’ and CY University teams, the students brainstormed on one of the main subjects of the workshop “Welcoming All Ages of Life in our Cities”. For four weeks, the students worked together to come up with their idea of what welcoming city should be. The goal was to create a manifesto and a poster, to collect their different ideas and shape them together. As coordinators of the workshop, we participated in weekly online meetings to help and guide them in this collaborative process.

The outcome of this collaborative and creative process was one main thesis:
“We strongly believe that cities that welcome all ages of life are green, inclusive, and create a sense of belonging”. Within these three categories, the students presented their perception of a welcoming city, all considering their own environments and experiences. The manifesto is a comprehensive and documented mix of ideas to improve the quality of living in cities for all generations.

Here are some of the main ideas and convictions that resulted from this process:
- A green city: greens spaces are proven to improve wellbeing, nature can be everywhere like bus stop roofs and lampposts, help with rising heat levels in urban areas, etc.
- An inclusive city - “if it fits the vulnerable, it fits all”: the 15-minute city, pedestrianization and slower speed limits, accessible public transport, wheelchair accessibility, safety, etc.
- Creating a sense of belonging in the city: identity through historical places, affordable art and culture, multifunctional library spaces, repurposing unused spaces for community activities, etc.

The final documents and propositions will be presented to the participants of the Paris Region workshop and help them in their own collaborative process throughout the workshop in September.