Sustainable cities: new urban development that combines intergenerational diversity and solidarity
Eco-quartier "Le Clos Saint-Michel", Chevilly-Larue - © E. Léchangeur
Our vision of the city of tomorrow is coloured by the growth of urban development, the rising mobility of city dwellers and increasing longevity figures. For Icade, a sustainable city is an inter-connected city that provides a balance between work, study, healthcare and interaction – it offers a balance between outdoor and indoor urban lifestyles. It is an intergenerational city that respects social and cultural diversity; it pollutes less and is less polluting.
A global vision of cities
Everything is interconnected in a city and all actions have significant and sometimes unexpected repercussions on the entire urban fabric. This is why Icade plays an active role in research projects that test and implement sustainable urban development approaches in conjunction with its stakeholders: choice of location, integration into the life and function of the surrounding environment, accessibility to disabled persons, building-transport interaction.
In opposition to the current trend which separates generations and social backgrounds in towns, Icade is committed to cities that are more humane and more respectful of diversity and which limit environmental impacts: low energy consumption buildings, socially diverse eco-districts, social and functional diversity, development of low-impact transport, business eco-districts, etc.
In favour of an intergenerational city
By 2035, over one-third of the French population will be aged 60 and over, compared with only one out of five in the early 2000s. Enabling the elderly to stay in their homes is becoming a challenge to today’s society. Icade aims to provide a genuine response, both for buildings and dedicated services:
- BBC housing programmes adapted to the elderly in city centres that respect intergenerational diversity;
- piloting of the national SIGAAL programme (intergenerational services to provide assistance to the elderly in their homes): enable the elderly to remain independent in their homes thanks to new technologies and home automation systems;
- involvement in the work of government ministries in this field;
- organisation of the “Age Village” website and Caisse des Dépôts “Living together and tomorrow” contest.