Mireille DIESTCHY

Mireille Diestchy is a Lecturer in Sociology at the Strasbourg National School of Architecture (ENSA Strasbourg), part of the University of Strasbourg. Holding a doctorate in sociology from Université Paris-Saclay (2016), she is an active member of the AMUP research unit (Architecture, Urban Planning, Landscape) where she examines contemporary ways of living across spatial scales from individual dwellings to entire territories. Her research primarily investigates forms of resistance to environmental challenges and participatory approaches to territorial development.

Diestchy's research focuses on the complex value systems underlying 'slow' movements (Slow Food, Slow Science, etc.), analyzing tensions between local and global scales and between personal pleasure and environmental responsibility. She employs a pragmatist theoretical framework to reveal how participants construct compromises between seemingly contradictory values. Her work demonstrates how 'relational proximity'—establishing direct connections and chains of interdependence—matters more than mere geographical proximity in contemporary spatial organization.

Currently leading significant research initiatives, Diestchy is a key participant in the European Horizon Europe project Startup (2025-2028), which explores citizen-led cultural spaces as drivers of sustainable urban transitions. Previously, she contributed to the Coopro research team (2022-2025) studying resident communities in co-owned properties and has been involved with the Upper Rhine User Support Network since 2019.

Her scholarly output reveals consistent engagement with spatial values, slow movements, and participatory urban development. Analyzing her publications shows a trajectory from early work on spatial tensions in slow living (2015-2016) toward increasingly interdisciplinary collaborations bridging sociology, architecture, and environmental studies, with recent focus on arts-science collaborations and rhythmanalysis.

Diestchy's academic contributions span peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, research reports, and conference proceedings. Her work demonstrates strong engagement with both theoretical frameworks (pragmatism, valuation theory) and practical applications in urban development and environmental challenges.

Her research methodology combines qualitative ethnographic approaches with theoretical insights from pragmatist philosophy. Through semi-structured interviews and participant observation, she examines how individuals navigate complex value systems in contemporary lifestyles, revealing innovative approaches to urban sustainability that emphasize relational networks over geographical constraints.