The Journées nationales de l'Architecture are back from October 13 to 15, 2023, in Paris and the Île-de-France region. A weekend-long opportunity to visit unusual and historic sites, and to take part in workshops and meetings with architects.
Created in 2015, the Journées nationales de l'Architecture are an opportunity to discuss the sublime creations existing in Paris and the Île-de-France region with architects, but also to discover many unsuspected places. Organized on the initiative of the French Ministry of Culture, they runfora whole weekend, from October 13 to 15, 2023, on the theme of " Architecture and ecological transition ".
Youngsters and the curious can take advantage of the opportunity to find out more about the profession of architect, thanks to the presence of numerous professionals. Special days are also being organized this weekend and next to give the general public the chance to discover private apartments and houses, in the company of the owners. Nearly 1,200 events are scheduled across the country,includingdebates, visits to architectural firms, buildings and construction sites, urban walks, exhibitions, film screenings and educational workshops.
This year's theme is set against a backdrop of many current challenges, be they energy, climate, health or social. Architects need to think about tomorrow's lifestyles in their designs, to create spaces where people can live comfortably and sustainably. This is an opportunity to discover the materials that will be used in our buildings in the future, as well as the building alternatives on offer.
Thanks to an interactive map, you can find out which venues near you are hosting events in Paris and the surrounding region, including the Musée des Arts et Métiers, the Plans-Reliefs, the Maison de l'Architecture and the Grande Halle de la Villette.
In all, more than 150 events are on offer in the Paris region. To help you find your way around, here's a selection of places to visit during the Journées nationales de l'Architecture. Please note that some activities are only accessible by reservation!
In Paris :
- Off-site but not off-ground - Maison de l'architecture Île-de-France
In operation since 2004, the Maison de l'architecture Île-de-France is the home of the 10,000 architects, urban planners, landscape architects and all those involved in the living environment sector. The Maison de l'architecture Île-de-France is a forum for debate on the construction of the city, and a place to promote architectural culture in all its diversity and plurality. During the Journées nationales de l'architecture, visitors can discover the exhibition "Hors site mais pas hors sol", produced by the Maison de l'architecture Île-de-France. It explores the concept of off-site construction, an innovative approach aimed at improving the quality of buildings, optimizing the use of materials and reducing the nuisance associated with building sites, while offering new opportunities to workers in the sector. It will be accompanied by a series of events including conferences, operation visits and workshops.
Exhibition from September 28 to November 30, 10 am to 6 pm
148 rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin 75010 Paris
- Maquethon, model workshop - Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine
The Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine is a national industrial and commercial public establishment, created in 2004 and opened to the public in 2007. It brings together in a single institution a museum, an architecture center, a school, a specialized library and an archive center. For the Journées nationales de l'architecture, the Cité is offering a maquethon for the whole family: a model recycling operation based on a collection of models collected from architecture students at the École nationale supérieure d'architecture Paris Malaquais. Over the weekend, everyone is invited to take up the challenge of saving and overcycling these architectural models.
Model workshop Saturday and Sunday, 2 pm to 6 pm
Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine, 1 place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre 75016 Paris
- Les Ateliers Gaîté
80 avenue du Maine 75014 Paris
Guided tour of Les Ateliers Gaîté
A new place for living together, Les Ateliers Gaîté, open since October 2022, is a mixed-use architectural project that brings together all the essential functions in the city: a shopping center, a Wojo coworking space, the Pullman Paris Montparnasse hotel, the Benoîte Groult library, a Babiloo day nursery and apartments. This new urban vision was realized by the MVRDV architectural firm and its architect Winy Mass. For the National Architecture Days, you'll have the chance to take a free behind-the-scenes tour of the shopping center, its unique technical operation focused on energy transition, and its terrace with a breathtaking view. A unique opportunity to experience urbex in an innovative Parisian venue just a stone's throw from Montparnasse station.
Guided tours: duration 1h (Not accessible to PRM)
Friday 13/10: 11:30 am, 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm Saturday 14/10: 11:30 am, 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm
Online registration
In Seine-et-Marne (77) :
- Archipel Francilien - "À fleur d'eau... et de terre": the Olympic nautical stadium at Vaires-sur Marne
The CAUE de Seine-et-Marne invites visitors to discover the site of the Vaires-sur-Marne Olympic Water Sports Stadium, in its setting of wood and water, at the crossroads of the urbanization of the towns that surround it. In the morning, the visit will focus on the nautical stadium and its immediate surroundings, to discuss the architectural design and landscape integration of the project, in the company of Markus Hennig from the AUER WEBER agency, the project's prime contractor. In 2024, the nautical stadium on the Vaires-Torcy leisure island will host rowing and canoeing events for the Olympic Games, and para-rowing and para-canoeing events for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The landscape and architectural walk, offered in the early afternoon, allows visitors to discover the entire site, right down to the banks of the Marne, its history and how the architectural project has been integrated into this landscape. The tour is led by architects and landscape architects from CAUE de Seine-et-Marne.
Architectural tour on Sunday from 11am to 12:30pm and from 2pm to 4pm, registration required.
RDV in front of the "Snack Open Set", near the lake, next to the parking area
Route de Torcy 77360 Vaires-sur-Marne
In Yvelines (78):
- Around the Manège Royal: the military past of a city district
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
In 1815, two cavalry companies, de Gramont and de Luxembourg, were stationed in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The decision was taken to house them in the town center, which was not without its problems. Today, the area around Place Royale has been returned to the local population, and still retains traces of its glorious military history.
Departure and arrival at the Manège Royal
Reservations required. Telephone: 01 30 87 20 75, e-mail: musee.municipal@saintgermainenlaye.fr
- Archives départementales des Yvelines
Avenue de Lunca 78180 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, Yvelines
Saturday 07 October 2023 from 09:30 to 17:30
Discover a selection of archives, old photographs, models and architects' plans, linked to the history of companies in the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines area, from the collections of the Musée de la ville de SQY and the Archives départementales des Yvelines. You can also immerse yourself in the world of work, thanks to a series of images taken inside companies!
In Essonne (91) :
- Exhibition on prison architecture
City of Corbeil-Essonne, semi-liberty center, 26 rue Féray, 91100
Built in 1883, the prison has been a semi-liberty center since 1970. One of the oldest prisons in France, it has preserved all its heritage architecture, with its distinctive keyhole shape. During the Journées nationales de l'architecture, the Corbeil-Essonnes semi-liberty center celebrates its 140-year history. For the occasion, the center is exceptionally opening its doors to give visitors a unique opportunity to discover the architecture of the facility through guided tours, and to explore its rich heritage through an exhibition on the center's history.
Monday October 9 to Friday October 13, 2pm to 4pm
Please register with proof of identity at communication.disp-paris@justive.fr
In Hauts-de-Seine (92) :
- Architecture workshop - Maison des années 30
The Musée des Années 30 offers a rich and comprehensive look at the creations of artists, architects and industrialists of the interwar period. The Journées nationales de l'architecture (National Architecture Days) are an opportunity to introduce the youngest visitors to architecture. During an animated visit, the host presents the modern reinforced concrete house built at the beginning of the 20th century, and explains the five points for a new architecture set out by Le Corbusier.
The children then draw on these points. An architecture workshop is also offered, where children create their own architectural designs from simple materials. An opportunity to learn about the fundamental concepts of architectural design: shapes, volumes, spaces, scale, light....
Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15, 3pm to 5pm, registration at resa.musee@mairie-boulogne-billancourt.fr
Espace Landowski, 28 avenue André-Morizet 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- La Fabrique du Pré
Paris La Défense, city of Nanterre
Paris La Défense, in partnership with the Hauts-de-Seine prefecture, the Hauts-de-Seine departmental council and the Nanterre town council, has commissioned Patrick Bouchain to take part in the process of completing the development of the historic axis to the Seine. On Saturday, October 14, the Journées nationales de l'architecture (National Architecture Days) provide an opportunity for a federative, educational and festive event.
The program includes a visit to the "La fabrique du Pré 2008-2023" exhibition, a meeting with Patrick Bouchain on the future of Champ de la Garde, a picnic in the countryside, an urban walk on the theme of "Reconnecting Champ de la Garde to the surrounding neighborhoods", a rural walk on the theme of "Agricultural experiments at Champ de la Garde", a presentation of the overall project by Ilex (landscape architect) and Sathy (urban planner), musical entertainment, guided tours organized by La contemporaine and rural workshops run by Ferme du bonheur.
Exhibition: La Contemporaine, 184 cour Nicole-Dreyfus 92000, Nanterre
Urban strolls, musical entertainment, guided tours and workshops from 12:30pm to 6pm: Champ de la Garde, 18 rue Anatole-France 92000 Nanterre
In Seine-Saint-Denis (93) :
- Quai du Châtelier
L'Île-Saint-Denis, Quai du Châtelier 93450, Seine-Saint-Denis
Site visit to the temporary Athletes' Village and Cité des Arts Urbains, future Athletes' Village...
Friday, October 13, 2023 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Join us for a visit to the Olympe construction site on Friday October 13 at 11am. This Cité des Arts Urbains project is located in the southern part of the river eco-district of L'Île-Saint-Denis. The central Place des Arts distributes five buildings on the same level, each with a different purpose: offices, student accommodation, a hotel, a nautical base and our own Cité des Arts Urbains. Envisaged long before Paris 2024 decided to install part of its Olympic athletes' village here for a one-month period, this site, originally intended for a ZAC and committed to by Plaine Commune, has undergone a new evolution in this context. The building's vocation is therefore twofold and in two sequences: to accommodate the athletes during the Olympic and Para-Olympic events, then to open, after a few minor transformations, a sustainable Cité des Arts Urbains, anchoring a strong centrality within the district, by mixing all kinds of audiences...
Registration required
- Porte de Paris" metro station, line 13, exit 1
La Plaine (Stade de France) 93000, Saint-Denis
Urban walk in the footsteps of the sporting heritage of the Paris 2024 Games
Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
With one year to go before the Olympic and Paralympic Games, SOLIDEO invites you to follow in the footsteps of the sporting heritage built for the Paris 2024 Games, and opens the doors of the future Athletes' Village between Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, Saint-Denis and L'Île-Saint-Denis. The program includes exclusive visits and meetings to go behind the scenes of the construction of the Athletes' Village and the Olympic Aquatic Center, and to immerse yourself in the daily life of the athletes during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It's an opportunity to understand what's at stake in these extraordinary construction sites, and to immerse yourself in the life of an athlete just a few months before the Games. The tour includes an urban walk in the footsteps of the Stade Aquatique Olympique and Stade de France (Saint-Denis) Olympic construction sites, as well as a presentation and tour of the Athletes' Village construction site.
The tour lasts around 2h30 and requires registration (limited number of places).
Non PRM route. Registration required, limited number of places
In Val-de-Marne (94) :
- Maisons-Alfort Veterinary School
7 avenue du Général de Gaulle 94700 Maisons-Alfort
Archipel Francilien - Maisons-Alfort: From the Veterinary School to the banks of the Marne (guided tour)
Sunday, October 15, 2023 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm
Since the 18th century, Maisons-Alfort has developed around the Marne River, which runs alongside the town to the north. The proposed tour takes in the major facilities built in this area, such as the Alfort Veterinary School founded in 1765, as well as programs from the early 20th century: a factory, a garden city, a religious building, and even a former beach... All these sites will enable you to discover part of Maisons-Alfort's rich heritage. What remains of these great facilities today, and how have they evolved? Come and discover the evolution of the town of Maisons-Alfort through the most emblematic site on our tour, the Alfort Veterinary School.
Reservations now open
In Val-d'Oise (95):
- Discover an eco-renovated barn
Parc naturel régional du Vexin français, Montreuil-sur-Epte
Faced with the challenges of the energy transition, controlling land artificialisation and enhancing the value of our built heritage, eco-renovation offers an interesting way of responding to current ecological issues. The Parc naturel régional du Vexin français invites you to discover an exemplary eco-renovation project on its territory.
Located in Montreuil-sur-Epte, this former barn was completely renovated using eco-materials such as wood fiber and hemp concrete, and finished to a high standard. During two days of open house, the Park invites the public to learn more about this renovation through guided tours, where it is possible to meet and talk with the owner and the craftsmen who took part in the work.
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 11:00 am, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm, registration at musee@parcduvexin.fr
Address given on registration
- Le Cube
38 avenue du Général de Gaulle 95140, Garges-lès-Gonesse
Tour of the new Le Cube cultural center
Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
The architecture of Le Cube Garges was designed by the archi5 agency, which integrated the pre-existing Lino-Ventura space into this new cultural hub, which now includes a media library, cinema, auditorium, conservatory, creative factory and exhibition hall. All six facilities are housed in an elegantly designed building, with 8,000 m² of floor space set in landscaped grounds. A few months after the inauguration of Le Cube, the Journées nationales de l'architecture will be an opportunity for the public to meet the archi5 agency and understand the formal and technical choices that went into the project.
Exhibition on the construction of Le Cube: a look back at the construction of Le Cube, which lasted more than three years, is on display in the mediatheque, with photographs retracing the various stages of the work, display cases evoking the construction site, and an architecture presentation table.
And for even more architecture :
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