French Architecture Without Values: A Critical Survey
In a 2010 article for artpress, architect François Chaslin expresses his concerns about the philosophical shallowness and political aspirations of modern French architecture, which he believes is overly influenced by marketing-driven optimism. He observes a departure from the significant discussions of the 1960s and 1970s, leading to a focus on eclectic, media-friendly designs that lack social critique. Chaslin points to examples such as Lacaton & Vassal's minimalist social housing in Mulhouse, the sustainable campus in Troyes by Lipsky and Rollet, and civic initiatives from Patrick Bouchain and Alexandre Chemetoff. He criticizes the 2008 French Pavilion at the Venice Biennale for prioritizing aesthetics over social concerns, concluding that the movement, despite its vibrancy, is devoid of theoretical foundation and coherence, referencing Lacaton & Vassal's Palais de Tokyo extension, which opened in 2012.
Key facts
- François Chaslin is an architect, professor at Paris Malaquais, and producer of Métropolitains on France Culture.
- The essay was published in artpress in September 2010.
- Lacaton & Vassal use horticultural greenhouse techniques for social housing in Mulhouse and an architecture school in Nantes.
- Lipsky and Rollet completed a small urban campus in Troyes in 2009 with polycarbonate facades.
- Patrick Bouchain focuses on circus and performing arts, converting industrial buildings.
- Alexandre Chemetoff worked on urban planning in Rennes and the former island of Nantes.
- The French Touch group organized the 2008 French Pavilion at the Venice Biennale under the theme 'GénéroCité'.
- Nicolas Sarkozy wrote the preface for the French Touch pavilion catalog.
- Édouard François designed a building with gabion walls and tree houses in Montpellier, and a housing project rue des Vignoles in Paris.
- Rudy Ricciotti designed the Pavillon Noir dance school in Aix-en-Provence.
- Jacques Ferrier designed the French Pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
- Moatti et Rivière are architects of luxury and sensuality.
- Manuelle Gautrand's agency website features embroidered atmospheres.
- The Équerre d'argent prize in 2007 awarded an extension of a school in Bordeaux over Ricciotti's Pavillon Noir.
- Lacaton & Vassal will extend the Palais de Tokyo, opening in 2012.
Entities
Artists
- François Chaslin
- Jean Nouvel
- Christian de Portzamparc
- Dominique Perrault
- Lacaton & Vassal
- Lipsky et Rollet
- Patrick Bouchain
- Alexandre Chemetoff
- Édouard François
- Rudy Ricciotti
- Jacques Ferrier
- Moatti et Rivière
- Manuelle Gautrand
- Xavier Gonzalez
Institutions
- artpress
- Équerre d'argent
- French Touch
- Biennale di Venezia
- Palais de Tokyo
- France Culture
- Paris Malaquais
- Le Moniteur
- Pavillon Noir
- Shanghai Expo
Locations
- France
- Mulhouse
- Nantes
- Troyes
- Rennes
- Montpellier
- Paris
- Aix-en-Provence
- Bordeaux
- Venice
- Italy
- Shanghai
- China
Sources
- artpress —