Objectives
This final-year project (PFE) course focuses on two educational objectives pursued simultaneously :
– to take into account issues related to usage in the design of an architectural and urban project, considering these at the scale of work and residential units, the building, the site and the neighbourhood, and in relation to the characteristics of the spaces (urban metabolism, morphology, spatiality, materiality, atmospheres, integration of living organisms and biodiversity, and an inclusive approach) ;
– to cross-reference this issue with construction and ecological transition challenges by focusing on the dimensional, functional, typological and material aspects of the built environment (layout, structure, partitions, layouts and environmental approach – eco-design, reuse and implementation of geo- and bio-based materials).

The theme of the integration of living and working spaces leads to the exploration of concrete issues, notably : the relationship between architecture and its context (built spaces and open spaces), forms of urban land use, typological innovation, the sharing of spaces, changing lifestyles and intergenerational housing.

This course is based on a gradual integration and a multi-scalar understanding of the issues and challenges surrounding mixed-use development. A critical analysis of the sites visited should enable a detailed understanding of uses and practices, with a view to better incorporating these into an architectural project. The analytical approach to the proposed schemes focuses on identifying the significant elements involved, as well as the relationships and interrelationships established between these elements, as these convey meaning and potential qualities. Typological research, for its part, should be understood as a way of considering uses, spatial practices, and even the gestures specific to these practices and the atmospheres in which they may unfold. Students will be encouraged to explore the sequences between public, communal and private spaces, as well as the relationships between the individual and the collective, re-examined through the introduction of mixed-use within buildings or within dwellings.

Process
The work is structured around several stages throughout the semester :
– a site visit and the production of a ‘site analysis’ to understand and clarify the existing conditions and the site’s potential for the project ;
– critical analysis of the activity sites visited, the findings of which inform the sketch (methodological input and group work) ;
– development of a site plan and organisational sketch for a mixed-use masterplan ;
– development of a sequence or section of the sketched mixed-use masterplan.

Throughout the semester, this course offers numerous opportunities for interaction with users and clients, notably a leather goods workshop and a medical centre.

Teaching team
Jonathan Dautre
Jérôme Vignon
Michael Fenker, contributor
Jodelle Zetlaoui-Léger, contributor