Thesis supervisors:
and Antoine Picon
The purpose of this research is to study and understand a period in the history of architecture and technology that marked the transformation of the French engineering landscape at the turn of the 21st century. The years 1970-2000 were structured by ruptures and reforms that left a certain mark on today's construction trades.
Internationally, the Meadows Report (1972) and the search for material savings through the development of lightweight structures were the beginning of a complex questioning of lifestyles and production methods. In France, the early 1970s marked the end of the Trente Glorieuses (1946-1975) and also the aftermath of 1968.
Before the end of the Trente Glorieuses, architectural construction in France was still strongly influenced by the Reconstruction. It was characterized by post-war needs, where industrialization had had a huge impact on the art of building, as well as by the tradition of reinforced concrete in French construction. The post-1968 period was a turning point in French society, leading to a reflection on new needs and new construction policies. Georges Pompidou's term in office (1969-1974) gave rise to research motivated by innovation in architecture and the emergence of major international competitions. In terms of architect training, the post-1968 period represented a break with the tradition of the École des Beaux-Arts, according to which architects were responsible for art and engineers for technology. In this context, the role of the engineer was encouraged to change.
What seems to have begun with a socio-cultural turning point and political upheavals led, during this period, to the completion of projects involving major technical challenges, thus contributing to the rise of the French consulting engineer to the forefront of the architectural design team. The Pompidou Center, the greenhouses and stretched canvas roofs of La Villette, the Louvre pyramid, and even Hall 2F of the Roissy terminal at Charles de Gaulle Airport reveal the undeniable importance given to structure, which even became a defining feature of its architecture.
This period left a material mark that can be seen in various projects: from the technical language developed in its constructions to the design and communication tools used (such as calculation software, models, and sketchbooks), among other things. But this mark is also immaterial, as it is a truly unique approach to the profession that emerges through these practices. The collected corpus covers project design, agency operations, and the trajectories of project managers, in the form of archives and interviews conducted with a group of protagonists from this period. The thesis studies how these projects and constructions were carried out, and how their reasons and processes reveal and transform ways of doing things: networks, professions, practices.
The Engineer and the Architect, France, 1970-2000: Practices, Networks, Transfers in the Landscape of Engineering PhD supervisors: Nathalie Roseau and Antoine Picon
The main focus of this research is to study and understand a period in the history of architecture and technology that marked the transformation of the French engineering landscape at the turn of the 21st century. The years 1970-2000 were characterized by disruptions and reforms that left a lasting impact on today's construction professions. On an international scale, the Meadows Report (1972) and the pursuit of a materials economy through the development of lightweight structures initiated a complex examination of lifestyles and production methods. In France, the early 1970s marked the end of the "Trente Glorieuses" (1946-1975) and the aftermath of May 1968. Before the end of the "Trente Glorieuses," architectural construction in France was still heavily influenced by post-war reconstruction. It was characterized by post-war needs where industrialization had significantly influenced the art of building, along with the tradition of reinforced concrete in French construction. The post-1968 era was a turning point in French society, leading to a reflection on new needs and construction policies. The mandate of Georges Pompidou (1969-1974) gave rise to a search for innovation in architecture and the emergence of major international competitions. In terms of architectural education, post-1968 represented a departure from the tradition of the École des Beaux-Arts, in which the architect was responsible for art and the engineer for technology. In this context, the role of the engineer was encouraged to change. What appears to have begun with a socio-cultural shift and political disruptions led, during this period, to the realization of projects with significant technical challenges, thus contributing to the prominent role of the French consulting engineer at the forefront of architectural design teams. The Pompidou Center, the greenhouses and tensile roofs of La Villette, the Louvre Pyramid, and Hall 2F at Roissy Airport in Charles de Gaulle Airport all reveal an undeniable emphasis on structure, which even became an identity of its architecture. This period leaves a material trace manifested through various projects: from the technical language developed in its constructions to the study and communication tools used (such as calculation software, models, or sketchbooks), among others. But this imprint is also immaterial, as it represents a unique approach to the profession that emerges through these practices. The collected corpus covers both project design, agency operations, and the trajectory of master builders, in the form of archives and interviews that will be conducted with a set of key figures from this period. The thesis examines how these projects and constructions were realized and how their reasons and processes reveal and transform the manner of designing: networks, professions, practices.
Year of enrollment
: 2023
Doctoral school
: City, Transportation, and Territories (VTT)