In 1922—a century ago this year—a young Swiss architect named Charles-Édouard Jeanneret made a radical proposal for the restructuring of Paris and other cities His utopian plan for a “Ville Contemporaine” (contemporary city) featured wide streets dedicated to automobiles high rise and midrise buildings set back far from the streets on superblocks and rigid zoning of buildings and streets by function and use Le Corbusier’s plan caused a sensation when it was exhibited at the annual Société du Salon d'automne exhibition in Paris that year he would propose to demolish a large section of central Paris to be replaced with the urban model he later called the “Radiant City.”  Le Corbusier and his colleagues convened to write a manifesto proclaiming their principles the Athens Charter became a blueprint for future urban development—and an enormously influential one Le Corbusier’s model was used by Norman Bel Geddes for the General Motors Futurama exhibit at the 1939 World’s Fair—and audiences were enthralled the country set about building a remarkably faithful version of Le Corbusier’s vision It has now been a century since Le Corbusier’s 1922 exhibition and more able to enjoy technological comforts and conveniences undreamt of by our ancestors in spite of Le Corbusier’s utopian vision—or perhaps because of it—too many of our cities and over-dependent on cars for transportation that poses a grave hardship for the elderly and parents who are forced to become their children’s taxi drivers the rigidly planned Radiant City model hasn’t resulted in the hoped-for affordability and equity of access disadvantaged populations have been isolated in functionally segregated superblock “projects,” cut off from the surrounding urban fabric and its opportunities (Jane Jacobs and other perceptive scholars have given incisive critiques of the problems this has created.) Meanwhile even as it has continued to sprawl across the car-dominated landscape while the top-down technocratic and political process of building becomes ever more complicated and constrained There’s also a growing sense that our buildings and our cities are just plain ugly—especially compared to the many beautiful buildings that existed before Le Corbusier’s day. Maybe this doesn’t matter, we think. But a growing body of research evidence shows that when users find their environments ugly and degrades mental well-being and even acuity beautiful streets and buildings (also as judged by their users) encourage walking It also lowers stress and improves mental well-being It seems that human beings have an innate need to be outdoors But these urban attributes are increasingly hard to come by Le Corbusier and his colleagues did seek to create beauty—but it was an esoteric beauty tied to function and a beauty of monumental scales viewed at a distance It was best appreciated by other architects and not by ordinary people living their daily lives at the human scale Le Corbusier had no interest in the scale of ordinary pedestrian delights or sidewalk cafes—which he once dismissed contemptuously to as “the fungus that eats the sidewalks of Paris.”  the livability of our cities and towns—their capacity to promote safety health and well-being—is under increasing threat It is not too much to say that these growing problems are threatening the sustainability of our cities But Le Corbusier and his collaborators had a very different model of cities—and it’s the one we have largely inherited neighborhoods should be functionally segregated by use; streets should also be segregated and classified by function with major spaces given over to the car; and urban spaces should be only loosely framed by architecture that is set far back from the streets and building practice are not to be celebrated but replaced architects and urban advocates have come to believe that reform is urgently needed especially away from the model of Le Corbusier and the Athens Charter The New Urbanists have played an outsize role in that now global reform movement with their Charter of the New Urbanism—a clever inversion of the Athens Charter—although they are certainly not alone In 2016, many of these reform-minded advocates (including some New Urbanists) gathered from around the world to participate in the remarkable Habitat III conference in Quito, Ecuador, hosted by UN-Habitat. The outcome document of that conference, known as the New Urban Agenda represented what the Secretary-General referred to as a “paradigm shift” in the thinking about what makes good cities That outcome document closely paralleled the Charter of the New Urbanism—and both represented a reversal of the doctrines of the Athens Charter there are numerous points of similarity and overlap between the Charter of the New Urbanism and the New Urban Agenda climate and local cultural traditions must be respected And there are many other points of convergence there are at least six major points on which the Charter of the New Urbanism agrees with the New Urban Agenda treatment of historic structures and patterns role of specialists in relation to citizens The following table summarizes the position of each of the three documents on these six points The good news is that the New Urban Agenda was later adopted by acclamation by all 193 member countries of the United Nations Whatever one’s opinion of the flaws of that institution (and like any human institution this is undoubtedly a milestone in urban history—a global agreement on the need for urban reforms closely parallel those called for in the Charter of the New Urbanism It is also surely a good thing that people from around the world are coming together to find ways of reforming our cities and towns and sharing the tools and methods for doing so Many of them can be adapted to work well in other contexts or to be developed further so that they work better It is to gather and share tools and methods for creating better cities and towns that the International Making Cities Livable was created in 1985 were passionate about exchanging the best lessons and most effective ideas for creating more livable in a peer-to-peer gathering to share the best knowledge to drive positive change The IMCL is complementary to the CNU in several key respects One is that the IMCL focuses more on academic research translated into practice and senior government policy while the CNU is more focused (though certainly not exclusively) on developing the expertise of practitioners A second complementary aspect is that the IMCL by definition has an international focus while the CNU is generally more US-focused can help to extend the CNU network to a global scale Our next IMCL conference, on May 18-20, will occur in the Paris suburb of Le Plessis-Robinson—a fascinating case study of a suburban retrofit from a “banlieue” in the Le Corbusier model, to a more mixed, walkable, diverse, ecological neighborhood. The IMCL, like the CNU (CNU 30 takes place March 23-26 in Oklahoma City) places great importance on gathering in case study settings and examining lessons in a peer-to-peer exchange The 58th IMCL conference will focus on “architecture and the edges of public space,” and how the implementation of the New Urban Agenda can bring new attention to this crucial but neglected aspect of city-making a senior official of UN-Habitat; Carlos Moreno the developer of Paris’ “15-minute city” model; George Ferguson Past President of the Royal Institute of British Architects and first elected Mayor of Bristol Senior Design Director of The Prince’s Foundation in London; and familiar US participants including Christopher Leinberger of George Washington University and Setha Low of the Graduate School at City University of New York and the Public Space Research Group Partners, in addition to the CNU, include the Council for European Urbanism, the European Placemaking Network, PlacemakingX, several chapters of the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism INTBAU), and the Center for Conscious City Design, among others. (More information is at https://www.imcl.online/2022-paris.) We will discuss all these issues in a topical podcast of “On the Park Bench” on March 1st at 12 pm Eastern Standard Time. Panelists will include Luisa Bravo, editor of the Journal of Public Space, Peter Elmlund, of the Ax:son Johnson Foundation and the IMCL Board, and myself as IMCL director, with moderation from Dhiru Thadani of Thadani Architect + Urbanist. You can join here View the discussion thread. A veritable rendezvous for Parisians and Ile-de-France residents on sunny days the tradition has endured for several centuries 2024 by the Plessis Arts et Loisirs (PAL) association will bring you back to the days of traditional guinguettes with a host of events: attend theelection of Miss and Mister Robinson 2024 put on your best disguise for the children's carnival and experience a true historical reconstruction of the guinguettes of the Belle époque Numerous events are also planned throughout the Fête des Guinguettes 2024 all of which are free and open to all (check with the PAL So get ready on June 13th for the 32nd Fête des Guinguettes 2024 in Plessis-Robinson Refer your establishment, click herePromote your event, click here There was once a place that drew crowds of Parisians away from their grand boulevards and sidewalk cafés to rediscover their inner child wine & dine in chestnut tree houses and celebrate summer like Robinson Crusoe Perhaps you’ve heard of a “guingette” a sort of French equivalent to a summer hoedown traditionally located next to the river and particularly popular in the the 19th and early 20th century Monet and Renoir immortalised such vibrant scenes in their paintings but it seems the most enchanting of these summer establishments has been long forgotten by Parisians… Les Guinguettes de Robinson was the place to be in the summer of the 1850s Parisians descended to the small district south of the city en masse to relax high up in the branches of chestnut trees and dance in the forest Eloi when an inkeeper was inspired by the popular myth of Robinson Crusoe He created a restaurant perched in an old Chestnut tree he called the Grand Robinson It was an instant success and competing taverns and restaurants multiplied quickly adopting the same Crusoe theme along the Rue Malabry not to be confused with “the Grand Arbre” had to change its name to “Le Vrai Arbre de Robinson” (the Real Tree Robinson”) in order to set itself apart from the competition dance halls and bars entertained Parisians in exotic island huts adults and children alike amused themselves on rides swings and various attractions and participated in donkey races (after a little too much wine) Customers in chestnut treehouses were served lunch of roast chicken and champagne their meals hoisted up to them in baskets via rope pulley systems. In 1855 a food critic wrote that ‘lavish tables were set and lovebirds without feathers but forks in hand exchanged happy kisses in the breeze For Parisians who couldn’t flock to the seaside during the summer months (but could now escape the city thanks to the expansion of the “suburban” railway lines around Paris in the late 1850s) Les Guingettes de Robinson provided a uniquely enchanting and exotic summer adventure this Robinson Crusoe Village was a Parisian paradise the spirit of the guingette fell out of fashion and after the war the Robinson dance halls and taverns began closing one after the other one of the popular dance hall pavillions was sold to a Renault factory In an attempt to revive the original “Vrai Arbre de Robinson” in the 1970s including French singer Johnny Hallyday invested in the Robinson Village The spirit of Robinson Crusoe was then replaced by an American Far West saloon universe western show and disco, only to close a few years later Today, only small clues remain of this Belle Epoque wonderland. The area where the Robinson village first sprouted is now an affluent suburban area of Paris called Le Plessis-Robinson named in honour of its vibrant history as a guingette playtown. The guingette’s first establishment “Vraie Arbre de Robinson” at 32 Rue Malabry is a sad-looking skeleton of the elaborate treehouse that once wrapped around the chestnut tree bare platforms and a crumbling staircase to nowhere no one passing by would give it a second look today One of the original Robinson Crusoe statues that once stood outside to attract customers still exists however currently standing in a nearby public garden Of the dance hall taverns where the sound of music laughter and tapping feet once echoed out onto the leafy streets only a handful of structures remain in tact saved from decay in the 1990s but never revived for its original purpose looking out of place and from another time in this affluent suburban neighbourhood I found it on Google street view here If you use Street view to navigate the peaceful rue Lafontaine you’ll quickly realise that the heyday of the Robinson guinguette is well and truly over and its vibrant party spirit has vanished long ago The village of Le Plessis-Robinson does of course however still hold guingette festivals every summer and I’d certainly recommend a day trip down there to go on a treasure hunt for the remains of Crusoe’s Belle Epoque playtown If you’re looking to recapture the spirit of the Parisian guinguette this spring and summer try some of these addresses (unfortunately however you won’t find any tree houses)… Image sources: Del Campe Did you know? Messy Nessy’s vault of local Parisian secrets, insider advice and little-known urban anecdotes are finally unlocked and in print. Pre-Order your copy of “Don’t be a Tourist in Paris” now Last Updated on May 28, 2019 by MessyNessy Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here MBDA has unveiled a data and high-performance computing centre in Le Plessis-Robinson near Paris to support its future missile development projects The company will use the facility for the development of future missiles including the Air-Sol Nucléaire de 4eme Génération (ASN4G) hypersonic missile fourth-generation nuclear weapon will be powered by an innovative scramjet technology Preliminary studies of the technology are in progress with the support of French Aerospace Laboratory ONERA the ASN4G will boost France’s nuclear deterrence which is implemented by the Strategic Air Force (SAF) and by the Naval Nuclear Air Force (FANu) The investment in the new data centre significantly enhances MBDA’s computing power The data centre has a computing power of up to 1,000 teraflops which is 20 times more than the existing capability at MBDA Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis the centre will enable aerodynamic simulations of missiles in subsonic to hypersonic speed domains This will help validate the company’s future products ASN4G will replace France’s ASMP-A nuclear missile which is deployed on the Dassault Mirage 2000N and Rafale F3 fighter jets MBDA is the prime contractor for the ASMP-A missile DefenseNews reported citing details from a book titled ‘The President and the Bomb’ that France was studying two projects exploring concepts for the fourth-generation missile the missile would require a range of more than 1,000km and should be able to travel at speed greater than Mach 5 Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network MBDA is a unique multi-national European group a world-leader in the field of complex weapon systems.  MBDA provides efficient and precision effects complex weapon systems which are decisive force multipliers in military operations MBDA is committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in defence and security we are resolutely committed to contributing to a safer and more sustainable planet.  nous sommes constamment à la recherche de nouveaux talents passionnés prêts à mettre leur expertise au service de la souveraineté des nations Wir suchen engagierte Kolleginnen und Kollegen die mit neuen Impulsen und innovativen Ideen technologische Entwicklungen vorantreiben Gestalten Sie gemeinsam mit uns eine sichere Zukunft und leisten Sie einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Stärkung der nationalen Souveränität siamo alla costante ricerca di talenti motivati e appassionati che desiderino contribuire all’innovazione tecnologica per la difesa dei nostri confini e della sovranità nazionale Explore our UK opportunities across Engineering and join one of our teams working together on technologies that help defend our nations Discover and learn about MBDA’s latest achievements to protect and preserve nations’ sovereignty and security Here you can find and download all the press releases web articles and photos related to our activities There are still important new developments in public transport services in the Paris region of l’Ile de France The extension of line 11 to the east of Paris and a new tramway line has been inaugurated as planned opened to the public on Saturday 24 June 2023 a town of 63,639 inhabitants in the Hauts de Seine department to the Jardin Parisien district of Clamart via Chatenay – Malabry and le Plessis – Robinson The T10 runs through four municipalities and has 13 stations including terminuses At the La Croix de Berny terminal in Antony users can use the RER (Reseau Express Regional) line B and the Tvm bus a BHNS line (Bus ad Haut Niveau de Service with its own route) linking Antony to Rungis and Creteil The second interchange is planned at the Hopital Beclere station The T10 line is expected to be used by at least 25,000 passengers per day The service operates every day from 5.30 a.m with crossings every 6 to 8 minutes during peak hours on weekdays every 10 to 12 minutes during off-peak hours The rolling stock chosen was the Citadis X05 model a latest-generation tram produced by Alstom and already in operation on the T9 line Very elegant and practical is the design created by the Alstom Advance & Creative design teams the Saguez & Partners agency and Île-de-France Mobilités designed to give the vehicle as much artificial and natural light as possible; the latter is ensured by the large windows provided which cover 45% of the vehicle’s total surface area A particular design feature is the light line that characterises the entire vehicle and which has led to the Citadis X05 being identified as a ‘tram lumiere’ A red line of light illuminates when the doors close a green line of light is activated when the doors open and the white line is active when the vehicle is in motion This solution was chosen from three variants proposed to the population of Ile de France during a public consultation The body is painted white with light blue stripes The lighting is 100 % LED and the air conditioning system saves at least 25 % of the overall energy consumption The materials in the vehicle are 99 % recyclable There are also large multimedia screens for dynamic route planning The floor is naturally lowered along the entire length of the tram The first units will be delivered for the T10 line from September 2022 The 13 Citadis delivered were produced at the La Rochelle plant Alstom’s world centre of excellence for trams in coordination with seven other sites out of Alstom’s sixteen which were involved in the tram’s production: Ornans for engines Valenciennes for interiors and service activities Aix – En – Provence for the tachymetric part and Saint – Ouen for design «We are delighted today to see the arrival of the Citadis ‘lumière’ tram on the T10 line and to offer a new reliable elegant and modern transport solution to the inhabitants of Hauts-de-Seine» © Copyright 2012 - 2025 | Vado e Torno Edizioni | All rights reserved | P.I European defense consortium MBDA announced it will lead a pan-European consortium focused on countering hypersonic missile threats from other nations.  it has worked for more than five years on what it calls the AQUILA project which is aimed at coming up with innovative options for counter-hypersonic air defense and interceptor concepts HYDIS² -- the HYpersonic Defence Interceptor Study -- has been proposed by MBDA with a consortium bringing together 19 partners and more than 30 subcontractors across 14 European countries. Among the consortium members are defense groups all with recognized expertise in the key technologies/areas needed for the purpose of the study of such a new interceptor. The objective of HYDIS² is to design various interceptor concepts and mature the associated critical technologies to deliver the best interception solution that fulfills the needs of the four member states -- France and The Netherlands -- and aligns with European Timely Warning and Interception with Space-based Theater surveillance (TWISTER) capability project.  said: “This project offers a significant European benefit contributing to European resilience and technological sovereignty by enhancing co-operation and interoperability between EU countries This project will also contribute to reinforcing the sovereign missile systems industry in Europe by sustaining and developing critical expertise technologies and materials; thus boosting European industrial competitiveness The technologies in the hypersonic domain are evolving and it is a priority for MBDA to remain at the forefront of innovation guiding Europe towards the most efficient solution to counter hypersonic threats.” Italy and the Netherlands have already confirmed their support and commitment by signing a Letter of Intent and agreeing on initial requirements Be vigilant ! Increase in attempts to impersonate Eiffage and its subsidiaries (use of fake email addresses, fraudulent websites, etc.). More details here. Inventing the future with a human perspective means continuing to grow while staying true to who we are Maintain our balance between construction and concessions businesses  Eiffage puts at your disposal tools to facilitate your exchanges with the group Find here all the news Eiffage Group and stay connected on our application and networks It is a source of pride for our teams: within the Noveos business park Eiffage Aménagement is committed to transforming nearly 3 hectares of the tertiary business park into a residential area with 750 homes and 240sqm of shops Developed on land acquired by Eiffage Aménagement the identity of this new district designed by the SUP D'AD agency will be marked by the implementation of a 4,000 sqm pleasure pond an art of living that can be seen in the visuals illustrating the operation is based on the quality of the buildings and public spaces The magnificence of the pond in the heart of the block should not detract from its ecological interest in rainwater management and summer comfort The first works will start in September 2021 and should be completed in 2025 Congratulations to the teams for this operation The Olympic flame, which is currently criss-crossing France, will pass through Hauts-de-Seine on July 24 the Hauts-de-Seine department will welcome the Olympic flame a key event that will precede the official opening of the competitions by two days This festive relay is a unique opportunity to celebrate the Olympic spirit and showcase the department's emblematic towns and sites the Olympic flame will pass through 19 towns in the Hauts-de-Seine département Here is the full list of towns involved in this memorable event: These municipalities will play a central role in hosting this international event offering residents and visitors a series of activities and celebrations that underline their commitment as a Land of Games The route highlights key sites in the department highlighting their cultural and historical importance: Please note that the times shown are approximate and subject to change depending on the organization and the hazards of the route where a major party is planned to celebrate this historic moment The Gabriel Péri stadium and the area around the Palais des Sports Maurice Thorez will be the center of the festivities The flame will travel 3 km through the city passing through the Parc André Malraux and the Paris La Défense Arena which will host a temporary pool for aquatic competitions The highlight will undoubtedly be the lighting of the cauldron under the Arche de la Défense, a modern and powerful symbol of the metropolis. The festivities will run from 3.30pm to 7.45pm, offering a variety of entertainment for all ages, sports activities and shows, including a free concert by the group Cover's Garden at 9pm on the Garden Parvis In short, if you want to vibrate in unison for the passage of the historic flame that marks the arrival of the festivities of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games When Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard completes his seventh and final term at the end of 2023 he will end more than 25 years of leading Carmel through population growth and transformative development Brainard was first elected mayor of Carmel in 1995 Earlier this month he announced he won’t seek reelection to an eighth term in office His decision opens up the field in the race for mayor in Carmel next year Already Councilman Kevin Rider announced he is seeking the city’s top job Carmel:Debt, development and diversity -- The impact of Jim Brainard's leadership But what will Brainard’s legacy be when he leaves office “What Jim did in Carmel both by regional and national standards is indeed remarkable,” Goldsmith said "The fact that you could have new urbanism and succeed defending change and then seeing the change worked really sent the message we can grow and do things differently,” Helmke said Only one other city in the world compares to what Brainard has accomplished in Carmel but [Brainard’s] creativity and innovation is a league of its own,” Cordingley said Snyder said she got along “just fine” with Brainard Let's pay this off before we go borrow some money for this “I think prior to Jim doing that in Carmel it was kind of thought of as an audacious idea that you could take a European urban planning concept or something from the East Coast of the United States and translate that into the Indiana landscape,” Fadness said This article was published on September 24 As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the tech landscape, developers are increasingly faced with the task of selecting which programming languages are the most beneficial and effective in terms of AI development Taking into consideration the rapid growth of AI and machine learning, is one programming language better poised to address the demands of this evolving field Java has been a programming stalwart since its inception in 1995 and remains one of the most popular languages for web applications and big data processing And although Python dominates in research and prototyping Java and Kotlin are strong choices for production AI systems especially in large-scale enterprise environments This is thanks to a recent update in which Kotlin streamlined onboarding and reduced its error rate by almost 30% European tech superstars: Hear from Datasnipper investors and innovation champions at TNW Conference on June 19 & 20 Google announced Kotlin as the preferred language for Android in 2019 the tech giant deemed it the technology of choice to share business logic across multiple platforms Kotlin has quickly gained popularity for its concise syntax It has multi-platform capability and allows developers to create apps for iOS desktop and web from one codebase which eliminates discrepancies between platforms and reduces overall development efforts Interoperability is also a key feature and Kotlin can work concurrently with Java meaning developers don’t need to abandon or disrupt current workflows Kotlin is also tailored for business logic programming including areas such as payment processing and financial transactions making it a practical choice for developing secure scalable systems in industries such as e-commerce So could Kotlin ever feasibly replace the likes of Java “Kotlin is a perfect fit for several scenarios: Android development and as a first language to dive into coding,” he says and we see even more opportunities for it to grow After Kotlin was approved by Google for Android development more than 50% of Android developers switched to it from Java and also up to 20% of Java server-side developers Kotlin is the number two language in the JVM ecosystem and is growing in popularity among Spring developers.” it’s worth noting that many developers using Kotlin for AI still rely heavily on Java libraries due to Kotlin’s Java interoperability It remains a robust choice due to its mature ecosystem and vast ecosystem of libraries and frameworks are particularly beneficial when it comes to machine learning run anywhere” principle means a developer can develop Java code on any device and run it on any other Java-enabled system that supports the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) its strong concurrency support—AI tasks often require parallel processing—makes it a sensible choice for developing scalable AI systems Java maintains its relevance with its established ecosystem and comprehensive tool sets for machine learning and data analysis Java is arguably better suited to projects integrated with existing Java frameworks or requiring access to a broader array of AI libraries providing a contemporary and user-friendly programming environment which hints at a more efficient and streamlined coding experience And for those embarking on new AI ventures who are looking for concise Ready to find your next role? Check out The Next Web Job Board Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week Content provided by Amply and TNW Woking Town Twinning Association (WTTA) was delighted to host a visit from children from Le Plessis-Robinson Football Club whose town in France has been twinned with Woking for more than 30 years also included teams from West Byfleet Junior and Barnsbury Primary schools On a sunny afternoon the six-a-side final was a typical cup tie fought out by Hermitage and Le Plessis who rallied from two goals down at half-time to level the game and then score the golden goal to win the trophy The Most Effort Trophy was presented to Hermitage’s Thomson Lake for his acrobatic saves and bravery and a special mention also for Le Plessis striker Anton who was awarded top goalscorer after finding the net nine times from West Byfleet and Ruth Kidd from Barnsbury who all gave up their time to run the tournament WTTA also expressed its thanks to Nigel Chapman from In Stitches who gave a special commemorative printed T-shirt to all 37 children who participated in the tournament to Dennis from Sports of Addlestone who provided engraved medals as a memento of the occasion who supplied rackets and balls for the visitors to play some tennis while in Woking Connor Laing at Woking Football Club provided a tour of The Laithwaite Community Stadium and the French children appreciated the main stand and a chance to buy some club merchandise said: “We hope this event will be the start of many visits by young people from our twin towns of Le Plessis-Robinson and Rastatt in Germany “It will help to foster closer links to ensure that town twinning continues to thrive.” To join WTTA, contact the chairman, John Kingsbury, at [email protected] Comments Tel: 01483 802700[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Tramway Line 10 or T10 is a new line of the Ile-de-France tramway network in France that commenced operations in June 2023 Ile-de-France Mobilites and Hauts-de-Seine Departement The Ile-de-France Tramway Line 10 (T10) is part of a modernisation programme for the tramway network operating in the Ile-de-France province in Paris The new line is 6.8km long and connects Antony to Clamart in just 20 minutes It was developed by Ile-de-France Mobilites the public transport authority of the Paris Ile-de-France region and the Hauts-de-Seine Departement Construction work on the T10 tram line commenced in 2019 and commercial operations began in June 2023 The line provides daily mobility to 175,000 residents and 65,000 employees in four municipalities It is expected to facilitate 25,000 daily trips – a yearly total of 7.3 million journeys The T10 tramway line connects La Croix de Berny in Antony to Jardin Parisien in Clamart via Chatenay-Malabry and Le Plessis-Robinson Existing roads have been widened and renovated to include cycle lanes and wider sidewalks The project also included the development of a maintenance and storage site at Chatenay-Malabry comprising a maintenance hall The line is provided with reserved status and priority at intersections to ensure the punctuality and reliability of services The T10 begins at the Croix de Berny station and passes through Antony before arriving at the Parisian Garden at Clamart The line’s 13 stations from north to south are Jardin Parisien The T10 tramway stations feature information display panels Navigo travel card recharging terminals and video surveillance equipment It connects to the Reseau Express Regional (RER) B line of the RER rapid transit system and the Trans Val-de-Marne bus line at the La-Croix-de-Berny station It also connects to the T6 line at Beclere Hospital Numerous bus routes also lie along its path making it easy to switch between different modes of transportation The T10 tramway operates Alstom’s Citadis X05 lumiere trams which are 45m long and can accommodate 314 passengers Built-in low floors provide level access across the trams and convenient access for disabled passengers The trains feature eight double-leaf doors on each side, 45% glass surfaces, 100% LED illumination, eight oversized multimedia screens, USB sockets, air-conditioned interiors and bench seats Audible and visual announcements guide travellers throughout the journey The tram is energy efficient due to its improved energy consumption for traction and auxiliary systems such as LED illumination and air conditioning The infrastructure cost for the T10 tramway was €351m ($383m) which was funded by the French state (21%) the Ile-de-France region (49%) and the Departement of Hauts-de-Seine (30%) Alstom, a transport company, supplied 13 Citadis X05 trams for the new T10 line. The trams were delivered between August 2022 and April 2023. The Citadis X05 trams are also operational on the Ile de France tramway line 9 served as the project manager for the construction of the new tram line provided project management services covering the feasibility studies View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network BackPanis-Barthez Compétition continues to support Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque at Le MansFor the second year running Panis-Barthez Compétition will be flying the flag for Mécenat Chirurgie Cardiaque at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (17–18 June this year) Nathanaël Berthon and Timothé Buret will sport the heart-shaped logo as will their Ligier JS P217 Panis-Barthez Compétition will be helping to raise the profile of Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque which has been a sponsor of the charity for the past eight years now Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque helps children from developing countries who are in need of a heart operation to receive care in France the charity has provided operations for some 3,000 children who stay with volunteer host families in nine cities across France while they receive treatment The ACO provides a stand in the race village and one of the competing teams is selected to help drum up support for the worthy cause Patrick Dempsey and his team were the first ambassadors of the charity at the 24 Hours of Le Mans The American actor/driver and his team helped collect over €70,000 in donations with the Ligier-Honda HPD driven by David Cheng Ho Pin Tung and Adderly Fong and again a year later with the Ligier JSP2-Nissan driven by OAK chairman Jacques Nicolet the Panis-Barthez Compétition cars also sported the Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque logo in the European Le Mans Series At Le Mans the #23 Ligier JSP2-Nissan finished 12th overall and 8th in LM P2 who had heart surgery when she was just three days old Olivier Panis’s contribution to the cause goes back to 2010 when he contested the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Peugeot 908 HDI Fap fielded by Team Oreca This year “the heart team” (Team du Coeur), as they are known, is composed of former professional footballer Fabien Barthez, Timothé Buret and Nathanaël Berthon in the #23 Ligier JS P217. The three recently visited newly operated children at the Marie Lannelongue centre in Le Plessis-Robinson Timothé Buret: Since I first got involved with the charity last year it has made me realise just how important their work is and visiting these children really brings it home.  I’m extremely proud to wear the heart on my helmet It reminds me that they are fighting for their lives I spent a long time chatting with the host families and I admire their commitment They provide a caring environment for the kids until they can return home to their parents Orso Chétochine - Director of Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque: It was logical to build on the ties we had already forged with Panis-Barthez Compétition We were able to save six children thanks to the funds raised at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year the drivers visited children in convalescence at the Château des Côtes so this time they were keen to go to the bedside of children who were still in hospital recovering from their operations We are grateful to the “heart team” for their support they relay our work to a wider audience and help raise the money we need to save young lives On behalf of the whole Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque team To find out more and make a donation: www.mecenat-cardiaque.org Photo (Pascal Saivet/VSA): The Ligier JS P217 will fly the flag for Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque at the 24 Hours of Le Mans The second round of the 2025 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) takes place this Sunday 4 May at the Circuit Paul Ricard, as part of the 4 Heures du Castellet. An impressive 44 cars are expected on the grid, with a large French contingent on home soil in terms of both drivers and teams. For the 93rd edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours (11-15 June 2025), the #59 McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo entered by United Autosports in the LMGT3 class will feature a unique livery: the Meningitis Flag. The aim of this livery is to raise awareness of a disease that is all too often overlooked: meningitis. The Automobile Club de l’Ouest is proud to announce that Roger Federer, the revered champion and global sporting icon, will don the mantle of official starter at the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans, the fourth round of the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship, at 16:00 on Saturday 14 June. treehouses became popular in the Roman era and then later in the Renaissance when the wealthy Medici family constructed them in the gardens of their villas in the Tuscan countryside a Parisian suburb called Le Plessis-Robinson drew fashionable city dwellers to its chestnut-tree bars and restaurants where roast chicken and champagne would be carried up to diners on rope pulley systems The house is divided into three distinct areas—“Mind,” a sitting room for reading and relaxing; “Body,” a bedroom that sleeps two; and “Spirit,” a hammock deck surrounding a 165-year-old pine tree.) Below are eight of the most fascinating modern treehouses around the world designed by leading architectural studios; small eco-forward firms specializing in treehouses; and free spirits in search of an off-the-grid lifestyle while others are hotels or educational centers welcoming the most adventurous of nature fanatics AdvertisementNorwegian interdisciplinary design firm Snøhetta has tackled projects as far-ranging as reindeer observatories a new addition to the Treehotel—a magical treehouse resort in the remote pine forests of Northern Sweden and a bucket-list item for both design and nature seekers the nearly 500-square-foot Nordic cabin is perched The architects sought to blur the boundaries between shelter and nature: on the cabin’s bottom surface a trompe-l’oeil black-and-white print of the forest allows the structure to virtually disappear into its surroundings large windows offer 360-degree views of the Lapland forest and the Lule River and a netted terrace that connects the two bedrooms provides an ideal spot for stargazing Former software developer Joel Allen was inspired to begin a new career in carpentry when he befriended a free-spirited elderly carpenter at a garlic festival in 2008 he had the idea to build an egg-shaped treehouse in the backwoods of Whistler and found the perfect location in a mossy outcrop overlooking a stand of old-growth hemlock trees Allen finished his “HemLoft” with second-hand materials and lumber—all scored for free off of Craigslist Tham & Videgård’s Mirrorcube (2008–10) is another fascinating The aluminum structure is covered in mirrored glass that reflects the blue skies and pine trees of its surroundings Inside the small cube—measuring roughly 13 feet on each side—a minimal The glass exterior is laminated with a transparent ultraviolet color that is visible only to birds (so that they don’t collide into the structure) Mirrorcube represents the inherently challenging relationship between man and nature and the need for high-tech materials and equipment in order to experience remote places with harsh climates a German firm that specializes in treehouses for a family seeking a playful haven for their young son and their friends The idyllic site includes a small brook and two large ponds A long terrace connects several sturdy hemlock spruce trees with the treehouse an upper bedroom with a domed skylight provides an expansive view of the night sky the terrace serves as a perfect observation point for spotting creatures in the water and the surrounding forest Architect and architectural historian Fujimori is best known for his towering whimsical tree houses; he once said that “a building should not resemble anyone else’s buildings or any style that has developed since the Bronze Age.” Nestled among cherry blossoms in the Kiyoharu Art Village—an arts complex including galleries and chapel—the minimal yet fantastical Teahouse Tetsu (2009) rests roughly 13 feet above ground on a single 80-year-old cypress trunk visitors can take a break to admire the structure and its surrounding scenery or climb up the ladder and enter the house for an open view of the park Immersed in West Virginia’s woodsy Summit Bechtel Reserve the Sustainability Treehouse (2013) was designed by integrated design firm Mithun for the Boy Scouts of America and functions today as an educational facility for the study of ecology and resource conservation The treehouse itself is a shining example of environmental leadership: Its vertical multi-story design minimizes disturbance to the forest local timber was used to build the structure thanks to a rainwater recovery system and both wind- and solar-generated energy visitors can learn about the surrounding site and ecosystem through interactive exhibits and galleries Rebelo de Andrade Studio sought to “recreate the fantasy of tree houses” for Pedras Salgadas Park the resulting Tree Snake Houses (2013) were constructed of raw materials to create the impression of a wild snake gliding through the woods Sustainability was central to the treehouses’ design The studio is currently developing more models of the houses for other terrains At their 42nd Annual General Meeting at the end of March Woking Town Twinning Association looked back on another successful year Mayor of Woking and president of the association welcomed all who attended with a description of her visit to the baroque town of Rastatt and the Tete-a-Tete event in May 2024 The largest international street theatre festival in Germany attracts professional artists from Europe and visitors from all over the world Cllr Morales also met the new Mayor of Rastatt While she was unable to travel to Le Plessis-Robinson other members of WTTA enjoyed the lively Fete des Guinguettes last June who said the association’s trip in July to Chartwell former home of Sir Winston Churchill in Kent In September several members of the management committee were joined by Woking Rotary Club members to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the twinning of French town sports co-ordinator Tahir Masud arranged a second successful visit to Woking of a group of young footballers and their parents from Le Plessis-Robinson who played friendly games against teams from Horsell Junior A visit from Woking to France is planned for later this year Plans for 2025 include the association’s annual outing this year to Scotney Castle 9 July and dinner at Sutton Green Golf Club on Friday 26 September when mayors and colleagues from Rastatt and Le Plessis-Robinson will be invited Membership of Woking Town Twinning Association is from £10. For an application form, costs of the day trip and dinner contact Chris Sansom at [email protected] Further details are on Woking Borough Council’s website and the Woking Town Twinning Facebook page. Tel: 01483 802700[email protected]Follow us A well-attended gathering of the Woking town twinning annual general meeting heard its president friends and family to enjoy during the coming year Reporting on behalf of the management committee chairman John Kingsbury said that the association and 2023 had been particularly successful with an excursion to the D-Day Museum in Southsea and visits in June and July to the festivals in Le Plessis-Robinson and Rastatt which dates back to at least the 9th century is some six kilometres south west of Paris while Rastatt is a vibrant city located in south west Germany bordered by the River Rhine and the Black Forest there had also been increased development in education thanks to the participation of Ruth Kidd from Barnsbury Primary School who gave an English lesson to Class CE2 pupils at the Henri Wallon School The visit to the Stadtfest in Rastatt included an enjoyable trip to the Black Forest and members of the committee travelled to the forum in Le Plessis-Robinson in September which produced promising feedback who organised in November a successful primary school football tournament between youngsters from Le Plessis-Robinson and their families and pupils from Barnsbury A return visit will be made by the English teams to France next month he would welcome more members to join the association including those who were willing to join the management committee The modest annual membership fee of £10 includes free copies of bi-monthly newsletters and the twice yearly Twinning News After the election of officers and members of the committee the following events were confirmed: The Tete a Tete in Rastatt from May 29 to June 2 and the Fete des Guingettes in Le Plessis-Robinson from June 14 to 16; an outing to Chartwell on Wednesday July 10 with free entrance for those who are National Trust members; and the annual dinner at Sutton Green Golf Club on Wednesday September 25 details of which will made available nearer the time As the members enjoyed refreshments at the AGM they looked back on their Belle Epoque-style dress for the Fete de Guingettes in Le Plessis-Robinson and at Rastatt’s famous baroque castle during the Stadtfest A membership form, a copy of Twinning News, a twin town leaflet and details of the above events, can be obtained from the treasurer, Chris Sansom at [email protected], telephone 01483 726974. Tel: 01483 802700[email protected]Follow us Racing 92 release strongly worded statement as they launch legal action against Johan Goosen French Top 14 rugby side Racing 92 have launched legal proceedings against one of their own players The fly-half surprisingly announced his retirement at the age of just 24 to move back to his native South Africa A report in French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique linked Goosen with a possible move to join English side Gloucester who face Munster in the Champions Cup this weekend and will bring the player and his associates to court over the matter In their full and strongly worded statement the club said: "Racing 92 regrets to announce that Johan Goosen has not appeared at the club for the last two days and seems to have vacated his residence at Le Plessis-Robinson Johan Goosen still remains bound to the club by an employment contract lasting four years and place in the locker-room all remain at his disposal Johan Goosen remains on the list of players qualified by the EPCR to play in the Champions Cup starting with the match between Racing 92 and Munster this Saturday Racing 92 is forced to initiate several legal proceedings aimed at enforcing its rights and redressing the harm done to the club Racing 92 believes that the club is a victim of blatant fraud which Johan Goosen his associates and various advisers must answer for in court Johan Goosen with South Africa in 2016 ©INPHO/Photosport/Tertius Pickard "Various civil proceedings will be taken out partly to obtain reimbursement of the advance payments made to Johan Goosen with regard to his image rights and also to obtain compensation for the non-provision of services to which he had committed in this domain "A complaint will also be laid with the French Industrial Tribunal in order to prosecute the player’s fraudulent and wrongful failure to fulfil his contractual obligations and to compensate the resulting significant damage for the club as the open-ended employment contract produced by Johan Goosen and signed by one of his friends and business associates appears to constitute a phony document given that it is not conceivable that a player put an end to his sporting career while at the peak of such career and accept a position in a South African company for a salary ten times less than what he was earning as a rugby player at Racing 92 "Full light must be shed on the responsibility of the various people who advised Johan Goosen in taking this aberrant and fraudulent strategy there are grounds for wondering how Johan Goosen is being supported financially given the numerous commitments and investments he has to meet." Goosen joined Racing 92 in 2014 after leaving Cheetahs in his native South Africa He has been capped 13 times by the Springboks This form collects your email so that we can send you emails By clicking yes you confirm your accept our privacy policy Developed by Square1