DLBP UK and DLBP US Unite in France for Annual Study Trip
Earlier this summer, the DLBP UK and US teams had the amazing opportunity to gather in Beaune, France for the company’s annual study trip. Company founder and president Dominic Lawson led tours of the town and countryside, explaining how Beaune’s urban fabric was formed and how it compares to towns and cities located in the UK and the US.
Beaune is situated southeast of Paris in the Burgundy winemaking region. Its origins date back to prehistoric times, and Beaune later prospered under Roman rule. Beaune eventually came under control of the Burgundians, who constructed new portions of the town directly on top of the old Roman walls. In the 15thcentury, France gained control of Beaune, but the town had fallen into decline by 1685. Beaune once again began to prosper in the 18th century with the growth of the wine trade, and this remains the foundation of the town’s economy today.
Beaune’s urban form is centered around the historic portion of the town, which includes curved streets that meander among homes, shops, plazas, and landmarks such as the Basilique Notre Dame and the Hospices de Beaune. A ring road surrounds this historic core, helping to reduce the amount of vehicular traffic cutting through the center of town. Beaune’s architecture is distinctive thanks to Germanic Burgundian influences – many buildings feature pointed archways, intricate stone carvings, and tall proportions that are typical of the Burgundian Romanesque architectural style.
DLBP staff, which features urban planners from across the UK and US, found particular value in examining how Beaune compares to towns and cities in our respective regions. We observed that Beaune is successful as a town because it prioritizes walkability, preserves and maintains a cohesive architectural style, features greenspaces and tree-lined streets, and includes a mix of appropriately-scaled residential, commercial, and civic uses at its core. While the town is traversable by car, vehicular traffic hasn’t had undue influence on the urban form. Beaune is also well-connected to the surrounding countryside, which features vineyards that serve as the cornerstone of the region’s winemaking industry. Trails and walking paths invite Beaune’s residents and visitors into the hills to observe the town from a new perspective.
Overall, this study trip served as a successful gathering of both teams in an educational and idyllic environment. Opportunities like this enable DLBP’s staff to build relationships and learn more about different urban forms, which in turn benefit the services DLBP provides to its clients. We are all looking forward to our next study trip in 2024!
