Recently, URBASOFIA team participated in a 2,5-day Field Trip to Marseille (France), together with the city of Baia Mare, aimed at providing insights into the local challenges and solutions regarding the urban renewal processes. City of Dusseldorf and the Metropolitan area were joining the trip as well. The aim of the trip was to go deeper into the certain topic of urban renovation and renewal which the cities share. During this meeting, the relevant experts on the topic were invited.
During the Field Trip, we have visit urban rehabilitation projects of the City of Marseille (being guided by Marseille Rénovation Urbaine), paying special attention to three different neighbourhoods:
- La Castellane – a neighbourhood with a high density, labyrinth organization, poor integration into the topography, isolation of the city by multiple infrastructures. It is a neighbourhood characterized by social insecurity and delinquency associated with drug trafficking. http://www.marseille-renovation-urbaine.fr/17-quartiers-17-grands-projets/la-castellane-280.html
- Saint Paul – a set of 222 social housing units with one access road, being defined by a situation of isolation. http://www.marseille-renovation-urbaine.fr/saint-paul/le-nouveau-visage-de-saint-paul-247.html
- Saint Mauront – an old harbour suburb, close to the city centre, a district concentrating a very degraded and unhealthy private housing, with a high level of poverty of its population as well as difficulties of communication. http://www.marseille-renovation-urbaine.fr/saint-mauront/le-nouveau-visage-de-saint-mauront-245.html