The Profit Is The Commons | Francois Decoster | DOA Guest Lecture
Join us for a guest lecture hosted by the Department of Architecture, Monash University, presented in partnership with Urban Design Forum and Monash Urban Lab
The Profit Is The Commons: Rethinking Urban Transformation in France by François Decoster, of L'AUC from Paris
The ways the city has been produced over the past 40 years have gradually come to a point where they fail to satisfy the basic needs of urban populations. Land speculation and financialization of real estate have led to increasing difficulties to produce affordable housing in metropolitan centres where the jobs are. The resulting sprawling peripheries pose multiple issues on the environment and quality of life. On the other hand, the over production of luxury condos, office floors, shopping malls and even useless new towns keeps sustaining an economy that seems to have lost its sense of purpose.
Acting by means of stimulation and transformation of the existing urban matter, as an alternative to its perpetual increasing, opens new perspectives for urban intensification, making commons the new profits and benefits of urban regeneration.
These ideas will be exemplified through the presentation of four recent projects by the Paris based architecture and urbanism office l'AUC: Lyon Part-Dieu's Contemporary Metropolitan Hub, Chapelle International new compact and mixed use district on a disused logistics site in Paris, the transformation of the two WTC towers in Brussels into a mixed use urban complex and the transformation of Tower 8 in the social housing estate of Saige in Pessac into a an urban catalyst dedicated to social and solidarity economy.
The Department of Architecture Guest Lecture Series presents the diverse guests who visit us to talk, teach and research the complexities of architecture today. This lecture is in partnership with Urban Design Forum and Monash Urban Lab.
Event Details
- Date:
- 29 April 2026 at 5:30 pm – 7:15 pm
- Venue:
- Lecture Theatre G1.04, Building G, Caulfield campus
- Categories:
- Architecture; Current Students; Industry / Alumni
Description
Join us for a guest lecture hosted by the Department of Architecture, Monash University, presented in partnership with Urban Design Forum and Monash Urban Lab
The Profit Is The Commons: Rethinking Urban Transformation in France by François Decoster, of L'AUC from Paris
The ways the city has been produced over the past 40 years have gradually come to a point where they fail to satisfy the basic needs of urban populations. Land speculation and financialization of real estate have led to increasing difficulties to produce affordable housing in metropolitan centres where the jobs are. The resulting sprawling peripheries pose multiple issues on the environment and quality of life. On the other hand, the over production of luxury condos, office floors, shopping malls and even useless new towns keeps sustaining an economy that seems to have lost its sense of purpose.
Acting by means of stimulation and transformation of the existing urban matter, as an alternative to its perpetual increasing, opens new perspectives for urban intensification, making commons the new profits and benefits of urban regeneration.
These ideas will be exemplified through the presentation of four recent projects by the Paris based architecture and urbanism office l'AUC: Lyon Part-Dieu's Contemporary Metropolitan Hub, Chapelle International new compact and mixed use district on a disused logistics site in Paris, the transformation of the two WTC towers in Brussels into a mixed use urban complex and the transformation of Tower 8 in the social housing estate of Saige in Pessac into a an urban catalyst dedicated to social and solidarity economy.
The Department of Architecture Guest Lecture Series presents the diverse guests who visit us to talk, teach and research the complexities of architecture today. This lecture is in partnership with Urban Design Forum and Monash Urban Lab.