Landscape Transformations: Urbicus

Since its creation in 1996 by Jean-Marc Gaulier, Urbicus has developed 'naturbanity' , a landscape practice as a pertinent means of tackling urban questions and which treats landscape architecture as an 'architecture of the land area' . Surrounded by a multi-disciplinary team, Jean -Marc Gaulier leads land-use planning strategies not to create a body of his own work, but to strive for the preservation, the enhancement and the balanced development of ordinary or iconic landscapes that are entrusted to him. Through prospective study missions and programmes, management plans and landscape plans, urban planning and development, and consulting and assistance to local authorities, the agency approaches the landscape projects in all its states: the rehabilitating of riverside or coastal sites preserving nature from urban or tourist pressure; the development of public spaces to regenerate the town of yesterday or equip the city of tomorrow; projects for towns in renewal or undergoing urban development structured by landscape; infrastructure projects thought of in terms of views landscape, natural and urban garden projects that are the foundation for positive environments. This book 'Landscape Transformations' is a review of projects chosen to illustrate that the landscape, itself at the crossroads of the viable, the liveable and the fair, offers an appropriate way to respond 'sustainably' to the challenges of land-use planning. The diversity of projects shown testifies to the fact that 'landscape architecture' is a pragmatic form of urban planning.