Habitat Week exhibition - Public spaces are vital for a prosperous city |10 October 2015

From open spaces and avenues to neighbourhood gardens and children playgrounds, public spaces not only frame but they emphasise a city, Seychelles Planning Authority chief executive Gerard Hoareau has said.

Mr Hoareau made the remark when opening of an exhibition organised by the authority in the lobby of Independence House yesterday morning as part of activities to mark Habitat Week.

To embrace this year’s theme, the Planning Authority focused the exhibition on the evolution of public places within our small capital – Victoria.

Land Use and Housing Minister Christian Lionnet officially opened the exhibition in the presence of key officials, staff members of the Planning Authority among other distinguished guests.

The exhibition took the viewers on a trip down memory lane. They were also able to assess the present and look at what the future holds as it showcased the Victoria master plan, plans that revitalise the public realm, pedestrian and cycle networks, activate the waterfront among others.

The authority displayed what Victoria will look like in the coming years and the viewers were able to share proposals for what is possible where public space is concerned for the next 25 years.

Planning Authority received the support of the Abu Dhabi government to help draft a plan to shape the future of our capital.

This exhibition was the last event held to mark World Habitat Day.

 “Our spaghetti of street connectivity forms the backbone of our capital and onto which all else rests. Public spaces are indeed vital for a prosperous city,” Mr Hoareau pointed. He stressed that “well designed and well managed public spaces are key asset for a city’s functioning and this has a positive impact on its economy, environment, safety, health, integration and connectivity.”

This year, World Habitat Day on October 5 was celebrated under the theme ‘Public spaces for all’ and as is customary every year in Seychelles, the government and all its partners take this opportunity to meticulously reflect with the rest of the nation on the state of housing achievements in the country, and analyse our strategies to overcome the multiple challenges in providing this basic human right.

As alternative to the world theme, Seychelles adopted a more practical theme – ‘Better Housing for All’  En Meyer Labita Pour Tou – to suit our local needs in our housing juncture. 

A group of staff members from the Planning Authority performed an original song based on the local theme.

In his opening address, Minister Lionnet briefly described other activities held during this week leading up to the exhibition.