INCLUSIVE REGENERATION OF PUBLIC SPACES

INCLUSIVE REGENERATION OF PUBLIC SPACES, Vernon (FR) Navigable Collections - Europan 13 runner-up

Inclusive Regeneration in Vernon (FR)
“Navigable Collections” – Europan 13 Runner-Up
By Maya Nemeta + Amine Ibnolmobarak + Emilie Meaud architects, Charlotte Meaud innovation & entrepeneurship consultant
Implementation team: Maya Nemeta + New South + Lafayette architects + Landscape Etablissement
Actors: City of Vernon + Seine Normandie Agglomération

How can public spaces in medium-sized cities become engines of inclusive regeneration?
The winning Vernon E13 project reimagines the town across the Seine valley — reconnecting its center, riverbanks, and former industrial zones through adaptable, shared spaces. The team’s vision: boost the local economy, enhance walkability, reduce car use, and improve quality of life through thoughtful urban design.
The Implementation project covers only a part of the site of the competition, 6.6ha of the city centre, the design uses a unifying sandblasted concrete grid, integrating vegetation, furniture, and lighting. Old materials (bricks, curbs) are reused. Three central squares are redesigned into lively, multipurpose public places.
The landscape strategy addresses climate challenges by reducing heat islands, increasing permeability, and using vegetation as a cooling element — making urban life more livable in a warming world.
Built on adaptability and public consultation, this long-term transformation reshapes Vernon’s identity while staying rooted in local use and needs. A model for future-proof, inclusive cities.