The 38th Paris Region International Urban Planning Workshop aims to examine the social and economic value of water and landscapes in the creation of resilient metropolitan and local urban development. Shaped by the sharp twist and turns of the River Oise, the atypical territory of Cergy-Pontoise represents the ideal breeding ground for drawing the outline of a unique urban experience, a vision of the city of tomorrow.

WATER AND THE CITY: Source of inspiration(s)

Main rivers and their tributaries are exceptional places in the geography of a city. Unfortunately, they have long been ignored or relegated to “supportive or productive” functions, whether it be defensive, commercial, logistical or that of waste management. Now, however, with the meteorological, climatic, ecological events and uncertainties of the last decades, along with the recent health crisis, it is clear that the relationship between the geography of water and its host territory must be reexamined in a far more comprehensive manner.

What efficient, active and resilient integration(s) of water can be incorporated into urban strategies, especially as ecological, economic, cultural, social and well-being vectors?

At a time when questions are being asked about the impacts of the health crisis on the design of cities, the strengthening of river navigation and river tourism, the intensification of floods, urban and land pressure, as well as the need to de-densify the city, the long dormant potential of hydrography is being rekindled. As such, the choice of Cergy-Pontoise as an area of study is all the more relevant.

Thanks to its location between the metropolis and the Portes du Vexin, its geographical particularities and its morphological and urban specificities, this territory possesses the ideal characteristics to generate and carry out forward-looking urban experiments.

How can the territory of Cergy-Pontoise take advantage of its unique geographical situation and prove to be a model resilient city?