I’d forgotten how much I love Toulon, France. It’s a naval town, and the sister city of Norfolk, Virginia, where I live in the States.

The little plazas–scattered throughout Toulon–are amazing. Full of character and life. And, they are so close together that you’re never more than half a block from a lively public space.

Our Hampton University architecture program has worked with officials and urban planners in Toulon each summer since 2010 to develop design strategies for revitalizing the city using architecture and urban design.

This year’s HU students in the plaza in front of the opera house, on the way to an event.

Reception hosted by the Sister Cities organization in Toulon.

A sketch I made this year of a pedestrian friendly street in Toulon. We got to see inside an apartment on this street in 2010.

This refection photo from Toulon was part of my recent exhibition.