Research at AREP: disciplinary and aesthetic question

“Invent a post-carbon future”: more than simply slogan, it is the mission of our multidisciplinary practice.

We know that we have already reached and overstepped several planetary boundaries. This collective awareness calls for an awakening, a very profound shift in our practices: in conception, in urban planning, in design, in engineering, and obviously in the early stages of projects (project briefs, real estate strategy), as well as in the support we provide to our clients in the form of project management.

Research at AREP is both a disciplinary and aesthetic question: what does a post-carbon architecture look like? First, it is about simplicity. Many contemporary building projects are too complex, difficult to adapt and transform; they feature so many components and technical devices, that they are difficult to appropriate. The recent winners of Pritzker prize, Francis Kéré or Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal reveal this turning point. Kéré works with traditional know-how and materials and adds the right amount of technique. Lacaton and Vassal have championed the reinterpretation of industrial systems to create new uses. This approach of simplicity is very inspiring, it shows that simple architecture can be “sexy”. It is the quest for the “new beauty” of the post-carbon era, the “aesthetic adaptation” to planetary constraints. AREP’s practice revolves around this fundamental question.

Research is an essential pillar at AREP (the “R” in our corporate name) and we regularly welcome researchers, Ph.D. students, postdoctoral fellows and interns who are keen to investigate the theoretical and operational issues of a post-carbon future. AREP is actively involved in numerous partnerships and research programs. We have also strong ties with the world of academic research and teaching. To structure our approach, we have built our program around 6 themes:

• Resources & Materials
• Land use & Biodiversity
• Energy & Sense of place
• Representations & Collective imaginary
• Design & Adaptation
• Architectures & Mobility

Feel free to contact us to find out more: nils.lebot@arep.fr, research coordination manager.