The Odyssey: reclaiming urban waterways through collective action

The Odyssey is, above all, a long-term collective adventure that aims to reclaim the Seine and the waterways of the Île-de-France region as vibrant spaces for living, wandering, and meeting. Along these urban rivers and canals, which traverse the metropolitan landscape, The Odyssey brings together a wide network of places and stakeholders from the fields of sports, culture, and social engagement, united through a programme of participatory workshops and inclusive public events.

A creative and inclusive re appropriation of urban water

The heart of he Odyssey lies in its participatory boatbuilding workshops, where inhabitants and local actors come together to design and construct boats and UFOs (Unidentified Floating Objects).These collaborative "neighborhood shipyards" are designed to be accessible to non-experts, providing hands-on learning in carpentry, mechanics, and water-based trades. Through the process, participants explore new skills and professional pathways, with the long-term goal of connecting interested individuals to certifying vocational training opportunities. In July 2023, a group of around 20 habitants of the Rosa Parks district (North of Paris) collaborated on the construction of a new boat named Le Chat Chiron.

Celebrating water as a space for solidarity, culture, and joy
The Odyssey also comes to life through public events: boat races, floating parades, cultural and sports-based animations, and environmental awareness campaigns. boat that reflects the identity, stories, and aesthetics of the Rosa Parks district. Bringing together creativity, community, and craftsmanship, The Odyssey fosters a collective experience centered on urban waterways as spaces for movement, culture, and shared imagination.

This is an existing pilot project that was tested in Rosa Parks (North east of Paris) and that can be adapted to another neighborhood in another European city as needed.