{"id":853,"date":"2015-03-29T13:17:40","date_gmt":"2015-03-29T12:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/streetchallenge.eu\/?page_id=853"},"modified":"2018-10-25T15:16:53","modified_gmt":"2018-10-25T14:16:53","slug":"2016-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/streetchallenge.eu\/?page_id=853","title":{"rendered":"ESDC 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

MONTREUIL<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/montreuil.plan-interactif.com<\/a><\/p>\n

The name Montreuil (latin: monasteriolum, meaning small monastery or village) was first noted in an 8th century charter, referring to a village around a monastery, situated at the place of the present church.<\/p>\n

By the Middle Ages, Montreuil had come to occupy a position at the crossroads of royal and religious life, situated as it was between the abbey of Saint Denis (one of the jewels of medieval gothic architecture, which you can still visit in Saint Denis), burial place of the French royalty, and the ch\u00e2teau of Vincennes, one of the principal residences of the kings of France until the middle of the 17th century (which can still be seen today on the edge of the neighbouring Bois de Vincennes).<\/p>\n

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The town hall of Montreuil at the Place Jean Jaures<\/p><\/div>\n

Viticulture was the primary source of income for the early inhabitants of Montreuil, along with vegetables, fruit, and flowers destined for markets in Paris. Indeed, like the neighbouring commune of Bagnolet, which the ESDC visited last year, Montreuil of the 18th century was very much a market garden for the city of Paris. The 18th also saw the introduction in Montreuil of the cultivation of peaches on trellises along long walls, the famous “murs de p\u00eaches” (walls of peaches), which provided the courts of Louis XIV and Louis XVI, in addition to the inhabitants of Paris, with more than 400 varieties of high quality peaches, and which are still in evidence in some areas of the town today.<\/p>\n

In 1740, Montreuil received a major new economic impulse with the construction of a new, paved road linking the town with the centre of Paris. By this time, a clear division has also emerged of the two distinct areas within the town: Bas (or lower) Montreuil, bordering with Paris to the south-west, and Haut (higher) Montreuil from the north-east to the north-west.<\/p>\n

\"Montreuil2\"

Cinema and public garden in Montreuil<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Montreuil\"

Montreuil<\/p><\/div>\n

The 19th century saw the increasing industrialisation of Montreuil. Gypsum, which had long been a natural resource of the area, was now exploited on an industrial scale, based around several large quarries. Other industries such as chemical production, leather treatment, alcohol distillery and porcelain manufacture also became established in the town. The town expands rapidly from 13 000 inhabitants in 1872 to 32 000 in 1896, with a strong influx of immigrants from the provinces, particularly in Bas-Montreuil, due to the increasing availability of work in the industrial sectors. Agriculture, however, still remained strong at this time (as is witnessed by the two statues of “Industry” and “Agriculture” outside the Mairie today, signifying their co-existence in the history of the town).<\/p>\n

Towards the end of the 19th century, a strong workers movement began to form in Montreuil around series of political, social and cultural demonstrations and movements. Indeed, a strong communist tradition has been maintained in the town until this day, the present communist mayor, Patrice Bressac, having succeeded former ex-Communist mayor Jean-Pierre Brard, who held the post of mayor for almost 30 years.<\/p>\n

Montreuil also has a strong creative tradition, particularly with regard to cinematography. In 1876, Emile Renaud invented the “praxinoscope”, for the first time making possible the animation of image, in Montreui. In 1888, the pioneering Georges M\u00e9li\u00e8s transformed his family home in Montreuil into a film studio, and went on to produce some of the greatest works of early cinema (including the legendary “Le Voyage dans la lune” or “Journey to the moon”. The Path\u00e9 brothers also created studios at Montreuil in 1904, to be joined by other famous film makers of the day, until the decline of the silent movie with the advent of the “talkies” towards the end of the twenties.<\/p>\n

Today, Montreuil is a dynamic commune in the Department of Seine-Saint-Denis and the fifth largest town in the Ile de France, with a population of over 103 000. The town is characterized by strong social and ethnic diversity, and also, since the 1980s, by members of creative and artistic communities, together with a number of large-scale social, economic and ecological projects focused on the revitalisation of the area. At least 15% of the “workers” in Montreuil are active in the creative sector. This gives Montreuil the greatest concentration of creative talent in the east of Paris, and the town in the French with the greatest percentage of creative workers per population.
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Participating International Teams\u00a0<\/strong>ESDC 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

This year teams of designers from eight different countries from around the world will compete for the Troph\u00e9e du Conseil G\u00e9n\u00e9ral de Seine\u2010Saint\u2010Denis:<\/p>\n

UNDP\/UNHABITAT Egypt<\/strong>
\nFor the second time, the United Nations organisations will be represented at the ESDC, as the UNDP<\/a> and UNHABITAT<\/a> team together to form a strong Egyptian unit.<\/p>\n

National Institute of Design, India<\/strong>
\nThe NID<\/a> will represent INDIA for the third time at the ESDC. They have a particularly strong track record in the Challenge, having won the competition in Bondy in 2014, and claiming joint second prize in 2015 in Bondy.<\/p>\n

Colab \/ Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand<\/strong>
\nNew Zealand makes its first appearance at the ESDC, represented by a strong, multi-disciplinary group of students from the Colab \/ University of Technology<\/a> from Auckland.<\/p>\n

Design Schools of Rome<\/strong>
\nA team from various top design schools (ISIA<\/a>, IED<\/a>,\u00a0QUASAR<\/a>)\u00a0in Rome return to the ESDC for the third time, after winning the Troph\u00e9e du Conseil G\u00e9n\u00e9ral de Seine\u2010Saint\u2010Denis with a very impressive poetic yet high practical design proposal in last year in Bagnolet.<\/p>\n

Ravensbourne University of the Arts<\/strong>
\nRavensbourne University of the Arts<\/a> in London regularly fields a strong design team in the Challenge. They have been competing since 2012, and claimed a very commendable third prize in Bagnolet in 2014.<\/p>\n

Professional Designers of Utrecht<\/strong>
\nDutch designers have played as strong role in the ESDC from the very start. They won second prize in 2012 and 2014, and first prize in 2013.<\/p>\n

Strate, School of Design, S\u00e8vres\/Paris, (3 teams)<\/strong>
\nDesigners from Strate<\/a> in S\u00e8vres have competed from the very earlier days in the Challenge, claiming first prize in Amsterdam in 2010,and returning in the very next year to Pantin to claim the title once more, in a mixed team with Les Gobelins.
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ICI\u00a0MONTREUIL: A Special Creative Space for the ESDC 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

This year, the ESDC has been very fortunate to find a special creative space for our atelier work: ICI Montreuil<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ICI Montreuil<\/a> is described as “A factory for Creatives”. In fact, it is a creative space for artists, craftsmen and women, entrepreneurs and start-ups, covering some 1.700 square metres in part of the old Dufour factory (manufacture of electrical material) in Montreuil. The overall space comprises ateliers, coworking space, prototyping machines, and a range of further creative services.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Ici Montreuil<\/p><\/div>\n

The concept behind ICI Montreuil <\/a>was to develop a special space for creatives, freelancers, entrepreneurs and independent workers in the creative sector in the area of Montreuil and eastern Paris who did not wish to be isolated or to work in sterile offices, but who were rather looking for an eco-system which would inspire their creative activity.<\/p>\n

ICI Montreuil<\/a> is run by the SCIC (Cooperative society for Collective Interest) MADE IN MONTREUIL. Founded in February 2012, MADE IN MONTREUIL has fifteen members, including entrepreneurs, artistes and the Town Hall of Montreuil. His mission is to help its users to development their economic activity and to offer employment for those in difficulty.
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Update 19th May, general impressions:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Montreuil_map\"<\/p>\n

Of all the districts within Seine-Saint-Denis in the eastern suburbs of Paris, which we have visited with the ESDC to date, the commune of Montreuil displays the greatest degree of “mixit\u00e9” – a mixture of old French residential and industrial architecture, new apartment blocks, private and social housing, large parks and green areas, commercial and rural (agriculture, horticulture) development. The commune comprises several districts, each of which has its own identity. There is a marked difference between Bas (Lower) Montreuil and Haut (Higher) Montreuil. Bas Montreuil borders with the 20th arrondissement of Paris – therefore an attractive, slightly cheaper alternative to living in the city itself – and hosts several large-scale corporations and national organisations (UbiSoft, international banks, CGT, the trade union organisation). There is much attractive renovated housing in the area, and old factories, which have been renovated by modern enterprises. Nevertheless, the area still contains many old areas, in need of renovation, particularly to the north of the “rue de Paris”.<\/p>\n

Higher Montreuil was always the more “rural” area, and originally a centre of agriculture. The old “walls of peaches” are indeed still cultivated in some areas. However, new “cit\u00e9s” (concentrated complexes of apartment blocks and social housing) have now also arisen in the fields of the north, and now blend in among the older residential areas. New, commercial areas and schools are also being developed in the northern areas<\/p>\n

Two contrasting target areas have been selected for the ESDC. The Mairie has identified both these areas as being in urgent need of revitalisation; studies are in progress to analyse the needs of the areas, and develop urban solutions which meet the needs for improved quality of life together with economic, social and cultural progress. The ESDC teams have the opportunity to propose their innovative solutions for realization in these areas.<\/p>\n

Following are the target “redesign” areas:<\/p>\n

Croix de Chavaux<\/strong><\/p>\n

The large square at the Croix de Chavaux is in a very central location in Montreuil between the “gateway” to Paris (Porte de Montreuil) and the Mairie (Town Hall) and at the intersection of a major arterial road (route d\u00e9partementalend several other local roads. The area is a mixture of 19th and 20th century housing, a commercial centre, a mixture of diverse ethnic restaurants and shops, and a large, covered market, which attracts a large number of residents on several days of the week. The area at around the Croix de Chavaux is in urgent need of development: more thought must be given to the requirements of pedestrians rather than cars, and the available space must be redesigned to meet more “people-centred” aspirations and needs.<\/p>\n

Les Ruffins<\/strong><\/p>\n

The “Les Ruffins” area comprises mainly new apartment blocks, together with some older residential buildings, in the east of Montreuil, and on the edge of the attractive “Parc Montreau”. The area also contains high performance sports facilities, a new ecological swimming pool, and several higher education facilities.<\/p>\n

A market takes places regularly during the week on the edge of the park.<\/p>\n

The extension of the T1 tram, connecting Montreuil to Saint-Denis is presently being constructed. The terminal stop of the extension will be at Les Ruffins in the area of the present market. Particularly in this context, but also with regard to the quality of life in general, there is a perceived need for proposals for development on a social and cultural in the Les Ruffins. Money will also be made available for the development of citizens’ initiatives for projects with a high degree of quality and potential.<\/p>\n

High priority will also be given to sustainable solutions with a high level of ecological quality.<\/p>\n

Work Space at ICI Montreuil<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the duration of the ESDC in Montreuil, we are very fortunate in having working space in ICI Montreuil, a converted old factory which now hosts a FabLab, ateliers for such professional activities as iron work, woodwork, textile design and sculpting, other spaces for digital start-ups and an exhibition hall. ICI Montreuil is well located for us, as it near the Croix Chavaux and the Mairie, and close to the no. 9 metro line, which goes directly into Paris.<\/p>\n

Support from the Mairie in Montreuil<\/strong><\/p>\n

As in each year, the ESDC is very actively supported by the Futur en Seine team, and Ouafae Benslimane, representing the d\u00e9partment of Seine-Saint-Denis.<\/p>\n

This year, the ESDC is also fortunate in receiving very active and collaborative support from Monsieur Ibrahim Dufriche, deputy mayor and the elected representative of the people of Montreuil, responsible for innovation, social economy, digital development and ecology, assisted by Monsieur Yves Miramon.<\/p>\n

As part of the overall ESDC agenda, the following activities and events are already planned for the days of the Challenge in Montreuil:<\/p>\n

Provisional Agenda<\/strong>
\nThe general agenda and schedule are now in place for the ESDC 2016. Some details have yet to be finalised. Following is the provisional agenda:<\/p>\n