Published on April 24, 2024

Moka Smart City has unveiled its architectural and historical treasures to students from ENSA Nantes-Mauritius. As part of a university project, aspiring architects drew inspiration from the city’s former railway line to propose new mobility solutions. Let’s delve into the details!

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Gabrielle Brun is the driving force behind the project. As an urban planning consultant for Moka Smart City and a Professor at ENSA Nantes-Mauritius, she guided these future architects through an exceptional initiative involving research, analysis and creativity. The city is wholeheartedly supporting this promising project, including by opening its doors and sharing secrets of its history to enable a reimagining of mobility fundamentals. Follow the guide! 

Using documentation to build better

Combining alternative mobility with heritage-friendly urban planning poses a significant challenge. The students began by surveying and analysing Moka’s old railway line, along with the remnants and stations scattered along its path. This process provided them with heritage documentation and a solid foundation for their proposal. They subsequently presented summaries of their plans, sections and elevations to a jury as part of their training. These summaries were used to orchestrate the transformation of these spaces to address mobility challenges. 

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Represented by Olaf Boullé, Land & Business Development Manager, Moka Smart City was among the first to discover the highlights of this project. This blend of academic and hands-on approaches aligns perfectly with the smart city’s development philosophy and its ambition to enhance mobility options for its residents. 

Balancing conservation and innovation through sustainable urban planning

In the project‘s second phase, the students presented their proposal for transforming these spaces, considering various scenarios: establishing an exchange platform, ensuring the maintenance of soft mobility routes and converting open spaces into covered areas. This endeavour aims to explore mixed–use possibilities in a new dimension, including the use of nomadic architecture to host events. 

This promising project reflects the dynamism of Moka Smart City, which is embracing the fresh perspective of a new generation while staying true to its rich history.

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