Habitability – A Living Lab in the Ubaye valley

Mobilized over a six-month period – including three field sessions – the students carried out their project based on the living lab methodology proposed by the Adrets association, which co-supervised the approach.

First, the students produced a diagnosis highlighting the issues specific to the area and its habitability. Secondly, they worked to bring out the concerns, ideas and projects related to the theme of services to the population.

During an initial residency in the Ubaye valley, the students were able to implement a number of participatory schemes, including meetings, market stalls, “flying brigades” and participatory workshops open to local residents.

The qualitative and quantitative data collected was then analyzed by the students and used to prepare the third stage of the project: putting the idea into action, enabling them to move on from the idea to concrete service proposals. During their second stay, the students set up two experiments: a local news communication interface, and an action aimed at young people (aged 15-20), two themes identified as problematic by local residents.

The final stage of the project consisted of a joint evaluation of the devices devised, to assess their effectiveness and sustainability. The students presented their work to the main players involved, questioning them on the relevance of their experiments and on future prospects for the continuation of this living-lab.