About the field study
The Dunkirk Critical Field Study brought together researchers and practitioners from a range of disciplines and countries to explore the landscapes of Dunkirk through field visits, discussion and critical reflection. Over three days, participants examined the intersections of memory, industry, ecology, migration, urban change and climate transition that shape this distinctive coastal city.
The study was designed to encourage interdisciplinary exchange and place-based learning, combining site visits with conversations led by local experts, researchers and practitioners. Themes explored included industrial and port landscapes, military heritage, urban regeneration, environmental change and cultural memory.
The three-day itinerary was curated by Atelier Za’atar, led by Anna Lena Hahn and Titiane Haton, and drew inspiration from their work on the “Jachères” research project and exhibition hosted at la Halle aux Sucres in Dunkirk. The three-day itinerary was curated by Atelier Za’atar, an organisation run by LRG member, Anna Lena Hahn and Titiane Haton.
Publication and event recording
The field study has since resulted in the publication of Dunkerque: Regards et Récits / Dunkirk: Stories and Perspectives, a bilingual digital booklet bringing together reflections and perspectives from participants. An online version of the booklet is included below.
The publication presents Dunkirk as a living laboratory of the Anthropocene, exploring how industrial infrastructure, coastal systems, urban transformation and cultural memory intersect in a place undergoing rapid environmental and social change.
Readers can explore the booklet online and watch the recording of the publication launch event, which brought together contributors to discuss the themes emerging from the field study and the value of international and interdisciplinary perspectives in understanding landscape.
Critical Field Studies
Critical Field Studies are a core Landscape Research Group activity, providing opportunities for researchers, practitioners and students to engage directly with landscapes through immersive, place-based learning. Each field study combines site visits, expert insights and critical discussion to explore contemporary landscape challenges from multiple perspectives.
Previous studies have included the Isle of Arran, Scotland, Dunkirk, France, and Cairo, Egypt, with each generating new collaborations, reflections and publications that extend learning beyond the field visit itself.
Landscape Research Group hosted a Critical Field Study trip to the town of Dunkirk, France from 16th to 18th October 2023.
The field study explored the layers of Dunkirk’s landscape, weaving the town’s war history, its industrial activity and its forward-looking initiatives in the realms of ecology, culture and urbanism. The trip provided opportunities to understand the sense of place of the town from the perspectives of local experts and inhabitants working in different sectors, such as the harbour, the archives and the town hall. We were also joined by Professor Mark Connelly from University of Kent, who led the visits to the military and post-conflict sites. The site visits were complemented and enhanced by reflexive conversations as a group, framing discussions from various disciplinary perspectives.
This trip followed on from our inaugural trip to the Isle of Arran, Scotland, in October 2022 and was followed by our 2025 trip to Cairo. We continue to aim to actively explore the current issues on the ground in various places, relating to landscape research, exchange knowledge and build networks of practice. You can find some participants’ critical reflections from other field studies on our LEX site.