Ault, a small town in Maritime Picardie in Northern France. Once a booming tourist hotspot during La Belle Époque and the Roaring Twenties, nestled on the very edge of the picturesque cliffs on the French Channel coastline, Ault’s territory is affected at present by severe depopulation. It therewith shares the same fate as many other shrinking cities. The constantly growing quantity of vacant houses is accompanied by rarely opened second homes.

Ongoing local discussions exclusively focus on the natural - eroding - aspects of the surrounding cliffs which gradually lead to stagnation, to a declining economy and thus into oblivion.

Partners: Structural research, Klaas de Rycke, Bollinger & Grohmann, Paris; Pittet Artisans Sàrl, Chavannes - sur - Moudon (CH), Fondation de France; Artconnexion; Private and public research laboratories; Public incubator - BGE; Innovation activator - HDFid.

Situation: 1 rue du Sémaphore, 80460 Ault, France

Surface: Gross 1521 sqm; Plot: 3000 sqm

Clients: Collaborative private on crowd-funded basis.