Outstanding Contemporary Architecture Label
The diversity of materials, aesthetic currents and programmes obviously echoes the history of the century and the technical, economic, social, political and cultural developments that have crossed the contemporary world at the local and global levels. To take a new look at this recent heritage, and above all to encourage public awareness (owners, occupants, elected officials, general public...) of this architecture and its urban environment, the Ministry of Culture created in 1999 a label for the heritage of the twentieth century. In 2016, this designation was incorporated into the Heritage Code under the name “remarkable contemporary architecture”.
This label is awarded to significant achievements, until the centenary of the building. It involves the DRAC in monitoring the evolution of the work. In addition to its automatic disappearance on the centenary of the project, the «ACR» label can be withdrawn if work interferes with the reasons for labelling.
Legal protection for historic monuments is not always appropriate for buildings of this period. The award of the label "Remarkable contemporary architecture" is not a protection, it has a primarily didactic objective and allows to accompany and follow the evolution of the buildings considered.
The distinction by the label has no fiscal or financial consequences (subsidy for example) or direct regulatory consequences. However, interventions, particularly those related to the improvement of energy and environmental performance, must not have the effect of distorting the architecture of the building. Communities that are aware of the preservation of this recent heritage can take protective measures as part of their local planning. The label is awarded to the building and is not based on a specific development project. It potentially concerns any type of public or private owners.
Once the building has been labelled, the objective being public awareness, the DRAC can provide a nameplate indicating the name of the building, its construction dates and the identity of the contractor. The installation is carried out under the technical control of the architect of the buildings of France.
The development of this heritage is also based on the various dissemination media, including print works, digital resources and educational tools.
In Burgundy-Franche-Comté
Since 1999 several inventory and selection campaigns have been carried out. They include, among others, the General Inventory Department within the Regional Council, the CAUE, the associations for the promotion of architecture and the DRAC.
Reference works serve as the basis for proposals to label and even protect historic monuments:
- Guide d'architecture contemporaine en Bourgogne 1893-2007, CAUE 71, (Picard Editions, 2008)
Documentary records are published and put online, cultural and tourist institutions, elected officials, services of communities, managers (owners, syndic...), architects, and all those interested in the living environment are invited to use and disseminate these sheets and the information they contain. The recognition of a heritage goes through its knowledge, the choices of adaptation and evolution of the built are based on the understanding of the qualities of the places where one intervenes.
The DRAC conducts studies, thematic or geographical, to identify and document the buildings or sets justifying this distinction.
Building owners can apply for DRAC certification, accompanied by a minimum documentation package. Applications are reviewed individually but as part of a regional working group. The label is validated by the regional prefect.
Outstanding Contemporary Architecture Label online | Partnership with CAUE
To follow the publication of the regional reference guide for Burgundy and increase the dissemination of this knowledge, the Councils of Architecture, Planning and Environment (CAUE) of Côte-d'Or, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire and Yonne proceeded, with the support of the DRAC, the posting of notices and photographs of a large part of the buildings identified.
This provision available to all, is based on the "Observatoire CAUE de l'architecture, de l'urbanisme et du paysage" which is a monitoring reference on contemporary production in the territories.
The CAUE Observatory allows the dissemination of information and its exploitation and use in various forms (practical sheets, tour guides, routes, catalogues and illustrations of advice).