On February 16, we organized the seminar of the ABC (Architecture, Biodiversity, Culture) program, a European cooperation project that organizes the construction of ecological institutions for culture, at the Académie du Climat (2 place Baudoyer - PARIS 4e).

Organized as part of the ABC project, a group of pioneering organizations in the fields of culture, architecture, civic activism and ecological practices, the seminar offered adialogue between the project leaders who have opened up new paths towards a more resilient and supportive society.

The results of various innovative experiments in several European countries were shared, with the aim of examining the potential of new partnerships at different territorial scales.

PROGRAM

The seminar was held all day on Friday, February 16!

► 10 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. : Presentations of eco-cultural projects by the ABC network**

• Doina Petrescu / AAA (FR) • Raluca Voinea / Tranzit.ro (RO) • Mircea Onica / Nedea Valceana (RO) • Stoyan Dechev / DRENArt (BG)

After a brief presentation of the project and the partners in the Architecture, Biodiversity, Culture (ABC) project, Doina Petrescu (AAA) outlined the strategy for the project R-Urban : its principles launched in 2008 (system change on an urban scale, interstitial interventions, bottom-up dynamics, complementary short circuits), the various units built in France (Colombes, Gennevilliers, Bagneux), the business model that values the management of common assets.

Next, Raluca Voinea and Adelina Luft (Tranzit, RO) tranzit.ro presented the Experimental Station for Life and Art, a project being developed by Tranzit in the north of Bucharest, with a layout designed by AAA based on R-Urban principles and, at the same time, incorporating the 3 Sisters principles of permaculture.

To continue our presentation of ABC partners and projects, we connected with Mircea Onica and Adrian Varaticeanu (Nedeea, RO). Nedeea Vâlceană who were in the Carpathian heights. Their talk focused on "Odaia", a centuries-old organization for managing common property, and on current agrotourism activities (necessary to reduce economic pressure on forest management).

Then Stoyan Dechev (Drenart, BG) presented this collective of artists who are developing a cultural venue in a village 60 km from Sofia, and whose approach emphasizes reuse and recycling, while valorizing traditional craft techniques.

► 11:45 - 12:30: Round table discussion

► 2pm - 3:30pm: Presentations of eco-cultural projects in France.

• Augustin Rosenstiehl (FR) • Fabien David (FR) https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabien-david-58072415a/ • Elodie Seguin (FR)

The seminar continued with a presentation by Augustin Rosenstiehl (SOA Architectes) who presented his work for the exhibition and catalog "Capital agricole" presented at the Pavillon de l'Arsenal. The analyses presented show the nourishing potential of the Ile de France region, which boasts some of the best agricultural land in France but, unfortunately, has been subjected to very strong land pressure for galloping urbanization which, only in recent years, has begun to be called into question as a result of today's multiple crises: climatic, food, social and economic.

Fabien David then presented a series of projects and research projects targeting different scales and biotopes, from polluted urban environments to the marine and underwater environments of the Mediterranean. All the analyses and proposals presented provided an opportunity to study and enhance very different elements of the landscape (from creeks to wasteland), always proposing innovative, biodiversity-friendly solutions with a long-term vision.

Elodie Seguin told us about the many factors that led to the creation of this unique farm dedicated to wild plants : Pariciflore. With her specialist botanical knowledge, Elodie emphasized the importance of the plants grown on the farm in enhancing biodiversity, preserving the local genetic heritage and the balance of natural environments. Pariciflore is a project committed to preserving nature and the living world, and at the same time shows that a project of this kind can also have a sustainable economic dimension.

► 3.45pm - 5.15pm: Presentations of eco-cultural projects in Europe

• Andreas Lang / Central St Martins London (UK) • Andrew Belfield / Public Work London (UK) • Constantin Petcou / TERRRA (EU)

The seminar continued late into the afternoon with a presentation of the Forest School project by Andreas Lang. Together with his students at Central St Martins London, Andreas has recently launched an in-depth analysis of ecological issues linked to forests (growth rates, role in reducing CO2 emissions from the atmosphere, importance for biodiversity, etc.). This work, illustrated in a highly innovative and synthetic way, is also achieved through dialogue with practices rooted in traditional knowledge, such as the collective Organizmo.org (Colombie).

Another UK online intervention was made by Andrew Belfield, who gave a very in-depth presentation of the development of the R-Urban strategy by Public Works in London. (R-Urban Poplar). After a brief parallel with the development of R-Urban by AAA in France, Andrew detailed the different types of activities around food, recycling, green energies and so on. Particular attention was paid to the involvement of local players in these dynamics of ecological transition.

Constantin Petcou then presented the European network Terrra which was initiated in Brezoi (Romania), but is set to expand to other countries and other types of tenancy. The network brings together architects, landscape architects, artists, farmers, etc., and proposes to launch research-action projects focusing on innovative resilient and ecological practices, while at the same time drawing inspiration from and valorizing local and traditional know-how that still persists in certain communities and territories.

To round off the seminar, we were pleasantly surprised to welcome 5 of the young participants in one of the first actions launched by the Terrra network in Brezoi: l’École des Jardiniers Planétaires Terrra à Brezoi. Gathered as a collective (Le temps de la terre / La révolte botanique), ithey talked about their wonderful experience at Brezoi in 2023, and were accompanied in their talk by Gilles Clément, the initiator and mentor of these meaningful educational experiments for a future in harmony with nature, the living and the planet.

► 5.15pm - 6pm: Round table

► 6pm: Book launch LiveAct – 10 questions for the future here and now Edited by Constantin Petcou, Doina Petrescu, Emma Williams, PEPRAV 2023

To round off this rich day of seminars, late in the evening we launched the book “LiveAct / 10 questions for the future Here and Now“, with several authors of the book (Constantin Petcou et Doina Petrescu editors, Gilles Clément, Adelina Luft, Ovidiu Tichindeleanu theoretical contributors).

The entire seminar was warmly welcomed by the Climate Academy team and, in the late evening, at the café solidaire hosted byYes We Camp, we continued to discuss new ecological projects and future partnerships!

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