This intersectional workshop introduces students from ENSA Nantes and the École de Design Nantes Atlantique to a professional reality rarely addressed in course programmes: collaborative work between architects and interior designers. The first cycle of the module involved the practical dimension of installing street furniture and full-scale, micro-architectural urban structures in public spaces in a rural town centre.
WINNER OF THE 2017 CALL FOR INNOVATIVE INITIAL EDUCATION PROJECTS
With a view to developing new, long-term pathways and courses, these modules anticipate the skills socio-economic stakeholders are going to require in the future.
Two partners
- École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture Nantes (ENSA Nantes) – Master
- École de Design Nantes Atlantique: Bachelor – Interior Design
About the module
This module builds on cooperation between the École de Design Nantes Atlantique and ENSA Nantes by giving students at these institutions opportunities to design and install full-scale items (street furniture, small urban structures or micro-architectural structures) to revitalise a town centre.
Thanks to a partnership with the commune of Mauges-sur-Loire (49), a new administrative body (established in 2016) representing 11 districts, the town centre of La Pommeraye will serve as the location for the students’ projects.
The module has a number of objectives:
- To take an interdisciplinary approach to the topic of spatial design (architecture/interior design),
- To engage students in a reflective process which involves building understanding about an area and its occupants (elected members, associations, residents) and applying knowledge by constructing full-scale prototypes. Students from both institutions will work together on a shared, key topic: materials and how to understand and use them to enhance a space.
- To give students first-hand experience of working with stakeholders in a present-day rural community who are thinking of ways to enhance and make the most of their public spaces.
- To provide communities with tools for reflection and decision-making to help them develop their town centres along various thematic lines (e.g. tourism, heritage, relationship with the River Loire, culture).
Teaching and Accreditation arrangements
52 hours
- ENSA Nantes: short project as part of the new Masters education programme (2 ECTS credits)
- École de Design Nantes Atlantique: a workshop as part of the Interior Design Bachelors programme (2 ECTS credits).
Schedule
- 10, 20 November and 8 December 2017: preparatory workshop sessions
- 15-19 January 2018: workshop to design and construct systems, furniture and micro architectural structures; in situ installation
Deliverables
The installations will be tested in situ, in public spaces, both initially and over a longer time period (several months) to identify the uses they inspire. They will also be used to stimulate discussion and as the basis for critical feedback from future users (public and private stakeholders, residents, general public). Initial discussions with the municipal team and local associations will be held on the day installations are put in place (end of the workshop).
Contacts
Sylvain Gasté, ENSA Nantes – sgaste@gmail.com
Lydie Morand, L’École de design Nantes Atlantique – l.morand@lecolededesign.com