Le jardin créole comme piste de réflexion pour un urbanisme résilient : étude de cas sur le paysage réunionnais

Reunion Island, an overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, is distinguished by its diversity of climates and landscapes, semi-dry forests, savannahs, humid forests, and more. This diversity gives rise to numerous challenges, further amplified by the island’s insular context. Climate hazards, land pressure, and growing urbanization in recent years have profoundly shaped the island. In mainland France, urban planning is shifting towards sustainability and a long-term vision. These challenges are driving the development of new solutions, and by extension, new forms of urban development. However, this vision, reflected in the prescriptions of urban planning documents, often leaves overseas territories on the margins. Their specific issues are poorly addressed by standardized solutions. Thanks to its rich heritage, Reunion has historically developed using ancestral techniques and a distinct vision of communal living. How, then, can this heritage become a meaningful asset for addressing urban challenges in island territories? Vernacular forms of living, such as the case and Creole gardens, can serve as sources of inspiration for the urbanism of tomorrow. This research aims to explore that perspective by analyzing academic work on vernacular models and examining the guiding plan of the island and tropical Ecocity, the first labeled Ecocity in an overseas territory that values the principles of the garden city.