According to Vanity Fair, “the Proust Questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized (though not devised) by Marcel Proust, the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature.” Inspired by the Proust Questionnaire, we have put together a set of 32 questions designed to reveal the true nature of 4CITIES alumni. Or to at least give us some insight into what they are up to and what makes them, as students of “the urban”, tick.
1. What is your name?
Lucie Rosset.
2. Which 4CITIES cohort were you a part of?
Cohort 06 (2013-2015).
3. Where and when were you born?
Switzerland, Lausanne, in 1990.
4. Where did you grow up?
Lausanne (Switzerland) and Cracow (Poland).
5. What did you study before 4CITIES?
Geosciences.
6. Why did you join 4CITIES?
Because it’s an amazing master program.
7. What is your fondest memory from 4CITIES?
Diversity, knowledge exchange, challenging perspectives.
8. What was the most important thing you learned from 4CITIES?
All opinions are valid and can be discussed.
9. What (if anything) have you studied since 4CITIES?
Straight to work, only some trainings in the field of public transport planning and participatory processes in urban planning.
10. Where do you live now?
Switzerland, Lausanne.
11. Where else would you like to live?
Everywhere, but maybe now most attracted to Buenos Aires.
12. Which city have you never visited but would most like to?
Istanbul.
13. Where is your favorite non-urban place to be?
At the sea.
14. What kind of work are you currently doing?
Urban planner in a municipality.
15. What other work have you done since graduating?
Public transportation planning, mum with 3 little boys, exchange program coordinator.
16. What job would you most like to attempt?
I am very happy now.
17. What urban-related job does not exist but should?
Interdisciplinary political facilitator.
18. What about cities do you enjoy the most?
Diversity, cultural offer, human proximity, parks and nature in the cities.
19. What about cities do you enjoy the least?
Noise, pollution, and smell.
20. What about cities do you find most interesting?
Constant changes, chaos.
21. What about cities do you think is over-emphasized or over-hyped?
Negative aspects such as noise and pollution.
22. What about cities do you think is under-appreciated?
Human proximity, creativity, diversity, beauty.
23. Why do you think urban studies is important?
It’s important to have an interdisciplinary overview on complex processes related to cities that cannot be planned only by specific specialists. Out opinions together for better political decisions, not only based on technical solutions.
24. What is one myth about cities that you would like to bust?
The myth that is it possible to plan a city … the chaos is often self-regulated.
25. If you could time travel, what city and year would you visit?
Rome in the 18th century.
26. What is your favorite imaginary city (from books, movies, etc.)?
Demain, un nouveau monde en marche (Cyril Dion).
27. What would you like real cities to learn or take from this imaginary city?
Organized chaos, human proximity.
28. What books, authors, or films would you recommend to someone who wants to better understand “the urban”?
Life Between Buildings.
29. What changes would make cities more livable?
More nature (trees, vegetation, grass, and urban gardening) in the cities.
30. What are the most important changes cities must make in response to the sustainability crisis?
Less movements, more local encounters.
31. If you could change one thing about your city, what would it be?
More alternative cultural offers.
32. What question have I not asked that you would like to ask other 4CITIES alumni?
Would you live in the countryside?
You can find Lucie on LinkedIn.
