In addition to a close city partnership, Paris and Berlin are now officially united by their commitment to preserving the infrastructure that makes our cities worth living in: our urban trees! The joint journey began in May 2022, when Paul Hatte and Alix Bougeret, members of the city council of the 17th arrondissement of Paris, paid us a visit at CityLAB. After a tour of our exhibition, one project stuck in their minds: Gieß den Kiez!
Inspired by the community approach to the coordinated watering of Berlin’s urban trees, the idea of a similar application for Parisians was born – much to our delight! The result, “Arbogeste”, can now be admired and used by anyone who wants to take care of urban trees in Paris, especially in the 17th arrondissement. In this interview, Paul Hatte tells us how the app works and what the future holds.
What motivated you to develop your app and how did you come up with the idea?
As elected officials in Paris, it’s important for us to introduce Parisians to the heritage around them: trees are a part of this heritage. In an era where we’re looking to reconnect residents with the environment and raise awareness among the younger generation, finding a way to do so in a fun manner seemed essential.
When we discovered the Berlin project “Gieß den Kiez,” we realized that engaging citizens in participatory watering could work, and that it also allowed for the creation of communities around trees. Our goal could be achieved: to connect residents to their surroundings in a playful and engaging way.
How exactly does your app work, what data did you use and who is your main target group?
Our app “Arbogeste” is available on the Apple Store and on Google Play. By logging in, users can access a map of the trees in the 17th district, see their species and their water needs through a connection to the French meteorological service. We also use the trees available in open data from the city of Paris. We have two target populations: 1) young people and their parents who want to do a family activity that reconnects with nature in the city and educates about environmental actions, and 2) green-thumbed enthusiasts who want to have fun on the app while doing something good for the trees.
Are there similar organizations in Paris like the CityLAB Berlin or are similar places needed from your point of view?
There isn’t really a CityLAB in Paris, and it’s greatly missed: we believe there needs to be a city-funded space where entrepreneurs, researchers, and enthusiasts can bring ideas to life and create proofs of concept. This would be both an inspiration for the city and, as you can see with us in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, for other cities around the world. The best research should always be funded and free to delve deeply thanks to the pooling of goodwill. A City lab always moves the city forward!
Could you imagine introducing your app throughout Paris and could other cities or municipalities adapt your project?
We would be very happy, like CityLAB, to inspire a major change in the way urban residents view trees. We hope that a maximum number of districts and cities around the world can be inspired by this movement we wish to instigate. But first, let’s see how Arbogeste is perceived by the residents, how they take ownership of it, and if it needs to be modified again and have features added. What’s certain is that we took great pleasure in designing this app and considering it a starting point!
