The work programme for the year 2014, voted on in December 2013, was broadly accepted by the new Board of Directors. An addendum, voted on during the Board of Directors meeting in June 2014, specified the following studies concerning understanding of the metabolism of Paris, the dynamic of the existing fabric and new economic models.
Apart from this work, the year 2014 was particularly marked by a deepening in the understanding of territories and their resources, and new working methods which created interest among several of its partners.
The information gathered covers a lot of subjects. The Agency has put it together, set up cartographic systems and developed ideas for the future. These maps and the results of this work are available for everybody. This information encourages a shared understanding of the current state of play, and offers the possibility of transforming constraints on resources.
The following bodies have come together around Apur and the members of its associated institutions: the preparatory mission of the Grand Paris Metropolis -Métropole du Grand Paris-, the Grand Paris Transport and Development Organisation -Société du Grand Paris-, the Combined Conurbation Communities of Plaine Commune and the East -Communautés d’Agglomérations de Plaine Commune et d’Est Ensemble-, the social housing oranisation -Paris Habitat-, the Ile-de-France Regional Public Institution for University Development (EPAURIF), and the Paris Region Intercommunal Funerals Union (SIFUREP). We have also worked with the Departmental Councils of the three departments which make up the inner ring of suburbs, the Study on Projects and Industrial Training (EPFI), the National Agency for Urban Renewal (ANRU), the Paris Region Property and Technical Agency (AFTRP), and the Department of Public Highways and Transport (STIF). Several “platforms” were set up including one linked to energy which brought together over 40 public and private key players, the road network with more than 20 key players and the work of the Station Neighbourhoods Observatory which co-ordinates more than a dozen key players per station.
Apur and the Ile-de-France Development and Urbanism Institute (IAU Idf) came together to co-produce the primers for the Grand Paris Metropolis publishing Notebook n° 1 in 2014 and Notebook n°2 in early 2015.
Finally, Apur and the 5 Urbanism Agencies of the Seine river basin signed a Charter of Co-operation in connection with the Philizot mission in order to support the development of this huge territory.
An initial review of the workshop project was made by the whole team of employees, which strengthened the idea of transversality /cross over as an essential added value to our studies and work, and the platform tool as a way of working that should be made more widespread with all our partners.
3 future areas of work have been highlighted:
- Digital input as much to improve understanding of our work (data visualisation tools) as for its dissemination;
- Observatories as a framework which integrate both data and forward vision;
- Understanding of urban metabolism at all levels, a frame of reference serving as a guideline for what angle of studies to pursue.
These forward looking areas have already been incorporated into the 2014 programme and will be extensively developed during 2015.
This activity report, the programme carried out, the diversity of jobs undertaken, the implementation of new working methods, the future areas of work determined on, all of this confirms the dynamism and openness of the Paris Urbanism Agency. Apart from recurring yearly jobs – data bases, maps, follow-up work, observatories – more than 50 documents, notes and studies have been put on line of which half concern questions carrying over into 2015. The year 2015 will continue the work of 2014, giving a lot of room to the dissemination of data and maps and supporting the partnership platform work.
