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Présence-absence des études urbaines en France : enjeux et perspectives

Laurent Devisme and Sandra Breux

Vers une écologie ambiante de l'urbain

Jean-Paul THIBAUD
This article is deliberately exploratory in terms of urban studies. He pleads for an sensitization of urban studies and wonders about a possible urban ecology of ambiances. Three major processes are particularly explored: 1) the aestheticization of urban spaces and the setting of our living environments; 2) the growing impact of the digital transition on our ways of feeling and perceiving; 3) the emergence of an ecological sensitivity taking into account the passage to the era of the Anthropocene. These large-scale trends open the door to a renewed urban ecology, more attentive to the atmospheric, affective and existential conditions of contemporary

Quartiers, rues et espaces publics : éléments pour une histoire des Etudes Urbaines francophones

Yankel FIJALKOW
This paper considers urban studies as a field of composite research based on academic and action knowledge. Il proposes to trace the contribution of monographs of cities and neighborhoods, wrote from the beginning of urban studies, to the questions of professionals. It brings together the history of notions, describing micro-scales such as “neighbourhood” and “street”, as well as the notion of “public space”. It examines theoretical tools describing the socio-economic processes of urban production. In this context, he questions the role of the French language. It is hypothesised that this lexicon is not isolated from any other outside linguistic influences. But it encourages urban studies to relatively homogeneous types of narratives and arguments that can be correlated with the evolution of representations of working-class neighborhoods(I) and organized common space (II), which has implications for contemporary urban projects (III). This paper presents a reasoned review of the French literature of the second half of the twentieth century and identifies the ramifications, currents of thought and fundamental writings. This intellectual history of ideas leads to an attempt to make a historiography of each notion in the light of the societal and urbanistic concerns of the moment.

Les études urbaines en France : une méthodologie sans discipline ?

Clément BOISSEUIL
This article argues that urban studies have not reached a status of clearly defined discipline in France due to the epistemological conflicts that shape the social sciences dedicated to the urban phenomena. Based on the example of a research protocol dealing with the implementation of French programs of urban renewal and after an examination of the literature at the foundation of French urban studies, the article suggests to improve the dialogue between the different works of this research stream following a logic of interdisciplinarity that could be favorable to the structuration of a specific discipline.

Quelle place pour la théorie dans le champ de l’aménagement et de l’urbanisme en France?

Collectif Champ Libre ?
This paper discusses the place of theory in planning research in France. It relies on various materials: a review of literature, the mobilization of exchanges that took place during a colloquium in 2016, as well as an analysis of the content of French urban planning education programs. The paper first adresses the singular place of urban planning and urban planning and the finding of a "lack of evidence" (Pinson, 2004) of theoretical frameworks in this field and questioning the causes. It then discusses the consequences and risks related to this deficit and lack of visibility. Finally, it suggests ways to promote theoretical constructions and debates in the research and the education in planning as a way to reinforce the contribution of the discipline to the knowledge produced in the urban studies field.