The River Seine as a Great Garden: The Sources
La Seine et ses affluents, dessin de Bertrand Warnier
Présence de l'Oise à Cergy-Pontoise
Aménager le grand territoire de la Seine, production de l'atelier 2023
Des bords de l'Oise fertiles et habités, production de l'atelier 2020
Des solutions basées sur la nature pour une Seine vivante, production atelier 2023
The Seine Basin is a vast territory stretching from Burgundy to Normandy, encompassing more than 18 million inhabitants. The multiple tributaries of the Seine form a spectacular array that traverses, irrigates, and connects rural areas, metropolises, valleys, and plains. This is the result of nature's slow work over centuries, shaping the landscapes of our daily lives.
The Seine Basin is a living environment for humans as well as other animals and plants, hosting a diversity of life. Its benefits for ecological and evolutionary processes are a resource to protect and adapt human societies in the face of global changes.
Faced with the simultaneous threat of water scarcity and the risk of flooding due to climate change, Les Ateliers de Cergy proposes that we take a fresh look at the Seine Basin. As the primary condition for life, water is at the heart of the relationship between geography, landscape, living organisms and minerals. Building on the hydrographic network, the symbolism of water and the narrative power of gardens, how can this Great Sequanian Garden be created?
The aim of the workshop is therefore to contribute to the invention of this Great Sequanian Garden, to invent the narratives of desirable, supportive and resilient territories for the inhabitants of this vast watershed. Following the river from its source to its estuary, this 43rd session will focus on the Upper Seine Valley–Seine Amont section.
The workshop main challenges
Foster a shared water culture : What can be done to reconcile uses, reduce conflicts and conserve water resources?
Imagine elements of a territorial narrative : How can the imagination be stimulated through storytelling mechanisms? What can they be they be based on? How can they be embodied and made collective?
Mobilize knowledge for territorial development : To encourage the application of proven knowledge, what strategies are needed to integrate this knowledge into territorial projects?
Raise awareness of hydrosolidarity : How can interdependence be translated into new forms of action and governance?As part of the 43rd session of the International Urban Planning Workshops, the Ateliers de Cergy propose to place water at the heart of territories. *
The Ateliers thus invite the territories of the Seine Basin and various water stakeholders to join this reflection, culminating in an international urban planning workshop. Twenty young professionals and students from around the world will work in teams for 20 days in September 2025 to collaboratively and creatively propose bold ideas to outline a grand "Seine Garden."
Apply until the 1st of June in order to take part in that exceptional work!
registration
The workshop is open to young professionals of all nationalities and disciplines, including students enrolled at least at a Masters level, from all disciplines (urban planning, sociology, arts, economics, agronomy, engineering, architecture, history, landscape design, etc.) of a maximum age of 30. Participation is on a voluntary basis. Proficiency in English is required to work in an international team
How to apply ?
*Read the call for applications and the topic document (to be released in the coming days) on theis page. workshop page :
*Complete the application form online : https://www.ateliers.org/l/apply-seine
*Prepare your CV (one or two pages) and a presentation of yourself in 80 words
*Prepare a personal work or an extract from a personal work (max. 6 pages) related to the topic of the workshop. We invite you to share your thoughts on your local river and water systems through a short personal work. The form of this work is open and may include drawings, texts, photos and other graphic productions.
Deadline for application
Sunday 1st of June 2025 à 11:59 (Paris time)
scheldule
from Sept. 8, 2025
to Sept. 25, 2025
The workshop will be held in Cergy-Pontoise and in the Seine river Basin, from 08 September to 25 September 2025.
The workshop is organized according to the original method of Les Ateliers, which brings together young professionals from different countries and disciplines in multidisciplinary teams. The workshop approach is multiscalar, ranging from the great Seine river bassin to the local scale, with a focus on the river’s affluents.
The first few days will be devoted to visits in the area and meetings with local actors as well as to working sessions that will allow everyone to better understand the topic and the different scales of the workshop. The teams will then start working in teams. The Exchange Forum will also allow discussions and debate with local stakeholders.
At the end of the workshop, a jury composed of local and international experts and local decision makers will be brought together to listen to and analyze each team’s proposals and approach.
The preparation of the participants will be accompanied by a context document presenting the region and the challenges of the workshop, as well as by a series of recorded roundtables. At the end of the workshop, a booklet will be produced containing all the workshop proposals, followed by a final document called the synthesis sharing the main lessons from the workshop.
staff
Co-pilots:
Armelle Varcin, landscape architect, associate professor at ENSAPL, researcher on the interrelations between risk, water, and landscape.
César Silva Urdaneta, architect, researcher at the National School of Landscape Architecture in Versailles, specializing in landscape and urban planning, co-pilot of the workshop.
Assistant pilot:
Carole Adenka, geographer, assistant coordinator of the project.
