How Architecture can be an Invitation to Gourmandise

The 19th edition of the Festival des Architectures Vives (FAV) started accepting applications for 10 projects. The FAV will take place in the heart of the city of Montpellier, in the Ecusson district and, more specifically, in the inner courtyards of certain private mansions, offering visitors a journey of architectural discovery. The aim of FAV Montpellier is, on the one hand, to open up these emblematic sites to visitors for the duration of the festival and, on the other, to reveal an intimate relationship between contemporary architecture, an installation, and a heritage site, thanks to the intervention of teams of architects who will present a work specific to each site.

‘人’ The Proscenium Of Ephemeral Reflections
Álvaro GONZÁLEZ SERRANO & Jennyfher ALVARADO FIGUEROA
Photo credit: Crédit photo : photoarchitectures.com

SOLSTICE
Léa BEKHAZI, Quentin BRION & Benjamin MAYLIN
Photo credit: Crédit photo : photoarchitectures.com

DIVAGATIONS
Collectif LEM : Elsa COLIN, Marc EL SAMRANI & Lydia AMARA
Photo credit: Crédit photo : photoarchitectures.com

Theme 2025: La Gourmandise

For this new edition, architects, urban planners, and landscape architects are invited to explore the link between Architecture and Gourmandise by taking over the courtyards of Montpellier's private mansions once again this year, with installations that offer a special kind of experimentation and provoke genuine moments of pleasure. How can architecture become an invitation to delectation? The proposed installations will have to play with perceptions and invite visitors to an immersive experience. The challenge is to design installations that awaken the desire to be explored, tasted with the eye, and savored with the mind.

PRÉLUDE
Kollektiv Von Null : Jannis SCHIEFER, David BIEGL, Lucia NEUMANN, Inês ABREU, Salvatore BULLARA &Theresa NOEKE
Photo credit: Crédit photo : photoarchitectures.com

À VOS BRIQUES !
Marine MANCHON
Photo credit: Crédit photo : photoarchitectures.com

COURS TOUJOURS
Clarisse CHEUNG
Photo credit: Crédit photo : photoarchitectures.com

Overview

Deadline for Submission

Applications must arrive no later than: December 2, 2024, at 23:59PM, French time (GMT + 1 / date of deposit being authentic).

Selection results will be announced in January 2025.

Selection Process

The consultation is open to young architects and landscape architects. The aim is to promote young architectural creation. It is possible to form a multidisciplinary team, but it must comprise at least one architect. Applications must be sent as a single PDF file not exceeding 10MB from the application page.

Application File

The application file must consist of the following documents:

• The Curriculum Vitae of each member (mandatory) - 1 A4 format per team member.
• Illustrated references of your architectural achievements, installations, competitions, etc. (mandatory).
• Note of intent with regard to the theme of the Festival des Architectures Vives. This note of about one page must express how the candidate envisions their installation, and it must be accompanied by an image (mandatory).

Candidates should note that these must be original creations presented within the framework of the FAV. Therefore, it is essential to cite and reference all sources for your projects. A detailed file presenting the technical constraints related to the design of an intervention (ground, exhibition, photos, survey, etc.) will be delivered to selected candidates. The selection of teams will be made exclusively from that file.

For the Ten Selected Teams

• Assembly and dismantling of the installations is to be carried out by the team itself. Set-up is scheduled on site from June 4-9, and dismantling on June 16.
• It will be possible to visit the sites during an organized visit in February 2025.
• A subsidy of €1,500.00, including tax, will be allocated to each of the 10 projects carried out.
• Specific constraints: some installations will take place in the courtyards of private hotels, therefore occupancy considerations must be taken into consideration so as not to disrupt either the inhabitants or the built environment. The safety of visitors and residents must be ensured at all times, both day and night.

Festival des Architectures Vives

Since 2006, the Festival des Architectures Vives has been offering the public an immersive exploration of Montpellier's architectural treasures - its private mansions. By transforming little-known historic spaces with contemporary architectural installations, the Festival encourages dialogue between past and present, tradition and innovation. Each installation is created by teams of young architects. From 3,500 visitors in 2006, the festival welcomed over 13,000 people in 2023 and 2024. In each courtyard, mediators facilitate exchanges between architects and visitors, making architecture accessible to all.