Nature and Well-Being in the French City: Desire and Homo Qualitus

Abstract

Over the last century, the discovery that human activities are adversely affecting the biosphere appears to have had an impact on the way individuals envisage their living space and conduct their day-to-day activities. They have become aware of the essential role played by nature, in particular on their well-being, becoming Homo qualitus. In this global context, French society has become greener. Nature and the city appear to be forging new links. This paper explores these different hypotheses. Firstly, it seeks to show how the French society is developing an ecological conscience, and how plants and vegetation are occupying an ever more important place in French cities. Secondly, the paper focuses on the representation of nature in society and the evolved forms of nature throughout French urban history. Thirdly, it explores the hypothesis that nature is a signifi cant component of city dwellers’ well-being, using the results of two fi eld surveys conducted in spring 2012 and spring 2017. It also analyses the meaning of, and desire for, nature by the inhabitants. Lastly, the conclusion will underline the way in which the satisfaction of the desire for nature and the willingness to preserve the environment exposes nature to a real risk to be instrumentalized.