How Geodesign Could Enhance Collaborative Urban Planning
The German-French planning seminar from 5 to 13 October 2019 focused on the "Challenges of urban planning and tourism planning in the La Rochelle area in the Charente-Maritime". It was led by Dr Eric Thomas, Dr Frank Scholles and Magrit Putschky and financially supported by the Franco-German Youth Office.
The two-day journey took place by bus via Liège, Amiens and Tours, where the colleagues from Polytech' Tours were welcomed. On Sunday evening, the group arrived at the youth hostel in La Rochelle. From here, excursions to various places and actors in regional and environmental development took place in the following days. In the house of the Département de la Charente-Maritime, the tasks of the Département were introduced before flood risk management and the handling of sensitive natural areas were discussed. A visit to these was then on the agenda.
The following day, the coastal conservatory and its tasks were presented as well as the national protected area Möeze-Oléron, a bird sanctuary with special importance for the wintering and migration of many species, resting place on the main bird migration route East-Atlantic. The day ended at the Cognac Eco-Museum in Migron, where the production of Cognac and Pineau des Charentes were explained - and the products tasted afterwards.
The city of La Rochelle with its historic, now car-free centre and the city-regional development concept "Objectivity - Creativity - Solidarity" was the focus of the next day.
The river ecosystem of the Charente and its quality occupied the group on Thursday in St.Savinien-sur-Charente: Management planning, construction of a mobile bridge, fish ladder, weir and sluice, and the challenges of flooding and habitats versus silting of the Charente were the topics.
How to deal with the pressure on the land market, how to best integrate community development while maintaining the character of the community as one of the most beautiful villages in France? This was demonstrated on the island of Ré using the example of La Flotte-sur-Ré.
The return journey was again made to Tours together with the participants of Polytech' Tours, from where they returned to Hanover via Amiens after eight eventful days.
