Didier Vye

A multi-scale, morphological interpretation of the sustainable city

This article seeks to highlight a shift in development of the city towards a sustainable model through the prism of morphology. It presents multi-scale, morphological keys for understanding, making it possible to identify and detail the physical and structural elements which comprise the sustainable city. Via these keys for understanding, the article endeavours to identify the various physical elements and structures of this urban landscape which is undergoing radical transformation. On what scale is the drive towards a sustainable city the most noteworthy? Does the slogan \“act locally, think globally” also apply to the urban territory? This paper begins by outlining the concepts of the sustainable city. There then follows a description and analysis of morphological keys for understanding the sustainable city. Finally, the concluding part covers application of these keys to the city of Nantes, which hosts several sustainable development projects and will assume the mantle of European Green Capital in 2013.

Evaluation of urban planning strategies with a versatile urban growth model

La Rochelle, France witnessed an important growth of its permanent and seasonal population during the second half of the twentieth century. Its attractive coastal position is the main reason for this increase, which led to a massive urban spread, particularly in La Rochelle peripheral municipalities. Which are the strategies used by local public authorities to take into account social and environmental problems? While it has been very innovative since 1970 in regard to urban ecology and sustainable development, does La Rochelle still have today the capacity to tend towards the \“ideal sustainable city”? On the contrary, is La Rochelle powerless, or even more complicit in the urban sprawl phenomenon? The purpose of this paper is to focus on one factor that particularly influences urban growth: local urban policies and planning strategies through planning documents analysis. For this, an urban growth model based on a cellular automata paradigm is used. In this model, the space is described as a grid, for each non built cell, with a graduated probability of building. This probability of building is based on the analysis of planning rules (e.g. urban planning regulation framework). The example of the correlation between these planning rules and local urban growth is described in this paper. The model enables the simulation of alternative urban growth scenarios. It helps one to estimate how alternative planning could affect non built areas. This model aims at helping the elaboration of future planning documents. The control of La Rochelle’s urban spread is one of the main stakes to be taken into account in the future land development plan (Schema de COherence Territoriale: SCOT). The SCOT is currently being elaborated in La Rochelle.