Le Plessis-Robinson: a town that went from a problematic, decaying banlieue to a beautiful, shining example of urban regeneration.
From suburb to sub-centre: Philippe Pemezec and Francois Spoerry, mayor and chief urbanist of Plessis-Robinson, had the goal to transform the town from a dormitory community into a real, independent place with its own centre and plenty of life. Its Coeur de Ville offers most of the shops to sustain daily life and make the town an example of a 15 minute city. New Urbanism principles were used to revive the monofunctional town and make it more vibrant and attractive.
Classical architecture: Classical architecture typical for Île-de-France was utilised, or ‘architecture douce’ (soft architecture), in order to make the town look more friendly, harmonious and beautiful. Before, the town was dominated by minimalist modernist architecture.
Garden City with a true river ecosystem: The Garden City of Le Plessis-Robinson, masterplanned by Atelier Xavier Bohl, was equipped with a winding river of 1KM in length, co-designed with ecologists and water ecologists in order to create a true river ecosystem. This river is accessible through footpaths and boosts the biodiversity of the area. It is also an attractive feature that offers residents the opportunity to escape into a tranquil environment, which is beneficial for their wellbeing.
Hierarchical city plan: Both the Coeur de Ville and the Garden City are designed with a clear, easily readable, hierarchical city plan. There is a clear distinction between main- and subroutes, like in a traditional town.
Social Housing: 30% or more of the housing supply is social housing, and residents are actively encouraged to buy their homes. A programme is in place to make it easier for social housing tenants to buy their apartment.
Sources:
https://www.journaldunet.com/economie/magazine/1096622-emploi-niveau-de-vie-les-villes-en-plein-boom/1096628-le-plessis-robinson
https://www.planetizen.com/node/57600
https://www.ribapix.com/Le-Plessis-Robinson-garden-city-flats-on-the-avenue-de-la-Liberation_RIBA101857
https://www.plessis-robinson.com/decouvrir-la-ville/histoire-du-plessis-robinson/le-plessis-robinson-au-fil-des-siecles/le-xxe-siecle-au-plessis-robinson.html
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Pemezec
https://www.linternaute.com/actualite/delinquance/le-plessis-robinson/ville-92060
http://www.xavierbohl.fr/