Research

Laurent Matthey’s research activities belong to the general field of the epistemology of urban planning knowledge and practices. They are divided into two strands: the first relates to planning discourse studies, and the second to the ethnography of urban projects.

Interests

Planning discourse studies, narratology, urban planning professions, epistemology of urban studies.

Current projects

• The Narrative Making of the City. Funding: FNS-COST 18126 – Writing Urban Places. [more info]
• Developing housing cooperatives in Greater Geneva. In collaboration with Université Savoie Mont Blanc. Funding: Interreg V France-Suisse. [more info]

Ongoing commissioned studies

• Study on urban and social quality. Comparative analysis of three districts: Mervelet, Pommier, and Marbriers. In collaboration with the Chôros rhizome. Commissioned by: Urban Planning Office of the Republic and Canton of Geneva.
• Pont-Rouge district of Lancy: an analysis of local social cohesion in an urban environment (joint application). In collaboration with Simon Gaberell (HETS, Geneva). Commissioned by: Office for the Integration of Foreigners.
• Study of the climatic resilience of the municipality of Lancy. Commissioned by: City of Lancy, Cantonal Service for Sustainable Development, Urban Planning Office of the Republic and Canton of Geneva.

Commissioned studies completed (examples)

• Socio-urban day/night study of Place Chauderon, Lausanne. Commissioned by: Roads and Mobility Service of the City of Lausanne.
• Inventory of sports facilities in the Canton of Geneva. Commissioned by: Geneva Cantonal Office for Culture and Sports. [more info]
• The Engagement of Lausanne’s Migrant Associations. Between Continuity and Innovation. Commissioned by: Lausanne Office for Immigrants. [more info]
• Landscape design of the Canton of Geneva. In collaboration with the architecture and urban planning agency Paysage n’co and the landscape architect Philippe Convercey. Commissioned by: Environment, Transport, and Agriculture Department of the Republic and Canton of Geneva. [more info]
• Being an Urban Planner. Socio-demography of a Professional Field. Commissioned by: R-EMU. [more info]

Teaching

• T206006 BGEO Géographies de la métropole : diagnostic, aménagement, environnement (cours) 

• T206059 BGEO Géographie et écologie urbaine : histoire, politique, aménagement (cours)

• T406020 MDT Séminaire décloisonné en aménagement du territoire et urbanisme (cours)

• T406038 MDT Atelier de prospective urbaine (atelier)
• T406025 MDT Histoire et théorie de l'urbanisme (cours)
• CAS Thèmes et échelles de l'urbanisme de l'urbanisme (cours et atelier)
• CAS Urbanisme opérationnel et opérateurs urbains (cours et atelier)

Publications