ARGUMENT
Citizen participation is fundamental to building a sustainable city. Since the 2000s, the involvement of the inhabitants in urban planning has become a legitimate new method of working. Thus, citizens have become key players in the production of the city. Extracting the concerns and perceptions of the populations concerned, who know their living space, makes them experts to consult and especially to involve in the development of urban policies and projects corresponding to their expectations. The permanent relationship between the actors and the beneficiaries is the key to the success of any urban project, architecture, the development of urban landscapes and urban mobility planning.
Significance of the event
Citizen democracy is a practice legalized and required by multiple urban and economic crises, which challenge us on its impact on the future of our cities. So feedback is needed after 20 years of existence. In this context, this event focuses on the issue of citizen participation in architectural, urban and transport projects. It focuses on sharing feedback. It proposes to reveal the advantages and the repercussions of such a practice on the improvement of the quality of life of urban citizens and the image of the current city. It is also interesting to explore the legal side of participatory democracy in Algeria and its application on the ground.
The objectives of the event
o The ultimate goal of this event would be to come out with recommendations in order to frame citizen participation in the various city projects.
o Question the place of citizen participation in the era of urban and economic crises in urban projects, housing, and the reappropriation of the urban landscape and the improvement of urban mobility.
Main axes of the seminar
Topic 1: Citizen participation in the urban project put to the test of reality
Citizen participation supports a real involvement of citizens in urban projects and allows
inhabitants to take ownership of their environment, and for communities to ensure their
consent. This participatory democracy is largely beneficial for improving the quality of life of
citizens in our cities. The participation of citizens can also be a financial aid by contribution
or a donation to ensure quality projects in times of economic crisis.
Topic 2: Participatory housing and inventory
Citizen participation in housing development is a process to be encouraged. This model tends towards a specific goal: to place the inhabitant at the heart of the realization of his place of life. We focus on its implementation in our country through real cases mainly collective habitats.
Topic 3: Reappropriation of the urban landscape and new uses
The urban landscape is continually changing, either through community or citizen action, in a concerted or informal way. A reappropriation by the inhabitants for new uses leading to question whether this participation should be controlled or curbed. It is interesting to know these new uses, their triggers and their impacts on the urban landscape.
Topic 4: Shared mobility in urban areas
The future of shared mobility depends on citizen participation. It is beneficial to involve citizens and users in the decision making process. Local people and actors know their environment better than anyone. They know which shared mobility solutions are best suited and what are the hot spots in the city to install them. In this context, feedback for our cities is needed to improve our strategies.
