In Geneva as elsewhere, public authorities are taking up the word “Oasis” to describe innovative urban initiatives capable of cooling the city and creating convivial places. Oasis cities have the particular ability to establish microclimates over the long term, enabling a rich and lasting form of life to take hold.
In the face of climate extremes, these sentinel places have made it possible to experiment with ways of complex dwelling that bring together humans, plants and animals. What lessons can be drawn for European cities that must cope with ever more frequent and prolonged episodes of intense heat?
Led by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, HETS-Genève, this exhibition presents to the public microclimatic devices capable of keeping a city hospitable and convivial despite intense heat, with particular attention to the most vulnerable.
At the opening of the exhibition, a round table will give the floor to experts who examine both the transformation of cities subject to intense heat south of the Mediterranean and the challenges the Geneva conurbation will now face.
OPENING & ROUND TABLE
Fondation Braillard Architectes, 16 rue Saint-léger, 1205 Geneva
Free admission
18:00 WELCOME & EXHIBITION VISIT
18:30 ROUND TABLE
- Marc Breviglieri, sociologist – HES-SO Genève
His research focuses on the varied configurations and arrangements of human dwelling, on learning to live together, on the dimensions linking body and space and, finally, on the affective, ethical and political questions raised by the experience of care - Armelle Choplin, geographer – UNIGE
A specialist in African cities, she studies urban policy, social transformation and development issues in the countries of the Global South.
She is Director of the Institute for Environmental Governance and Territorial Development - David Goeury, geographer – HES-SO Genève
He develops a geography of stakeholders around questions of societal resilience. He is currently examining the transformation of land commons through action research, particularly around agri-urban metabolisms - Luca Pattaroni, sociologist – EPFL
His work addresses the expression of difference and the making of the common in contemporary cities, focusing on the concurrent transformation of lifestyles, institutional frameworks and spatial forms. His research covers housing, public spaces, urban migration and cultural and urban movements.
- Panos Mantziaras, moderator
19:30 DRINKS RECEPTION
EXHIBITION
The Oasis Resonances exhibition is a mobile installation made up of 10 main panels presenting the conclusions of the book of the same name, as well as the research perspectives developed within the LHMENA project “Agroecologies and eco-construction”. It sets out to discuss the sensory heritage of historic Saharan urbanism and its contemporary transformation. Saharan cities are regarded as sentinel places in the face of global warming, able to help us rethink contemporary cities in more temperate contexts. Having presented the threats facing this urbanism, which has managed to withstand extreme heat, the exhibition opens onto the prospects offered by eco-construction and eco-design to help communities overcome current and future climate extremes.
The panels feature QR codes that allow visitors to access sound recordings made on site using their smartphone, via the Cartophonies website.
This exhibition has been shown in Cairo, Tunis, Agadir, Tiznit, Kenadsa, Paris, Grenoble, Nancy, Chambéry and Saint-Dié.
OPENING HOURS
Wednesday 23 October: 14:00 – 18:00
Friday 25 October: 14:00 – 18:00
Monday 29 October – Friday 1 November: 14:00 – 18:00
Wednesday 6 November: 14:00 – 18:00
Friday 8 November: 14:00 – 18:00
Monday 11 November – Thursday 14 November: 14:00 – 18:00
Image credit: David Goeury, 2015
