Review 2022 of the work of the Observatory of the Architecture Economy: from knowledge of a sector to the progressive creation of an economic sector of architecture

Paris, 13 December 2022

Launched at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture, the Observatory creates a unique space for discussion and joint work on shared topics by bringing together initial training and research institutions (ENSA), professionals (architects registered with the order, architectural companies, trade unions, insurers), with the support of a scientific council composed of researchers or institutions specialized in statistics, economics, management, the professional world, etc.

Thus, in 2022 were born of this alliance:

1- A study for a better knowledge of architecture companies and their prospects

Conducted during the summer of 2022 with architectural companies, “Where is your agency going?” allows to better understand the economic situation of the agencies and to hear the concerns and expectations of the professionals regarding the development of their activities. More than 2,000 architects responded to the survey electronically from July 8 to August 29, 2022.

The results of the “Where is your agency going?” survey are: to be found here.

It is an initiative of the Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the MAF, the Order of Architects, the UNSFA, the Syndicate of Architecture and the Academy of Architecture, under the aegis of the Observatory of the Architecture Economy.

This survey also echoes the Archigraphy 2022 study, portrait of the profession of architect produced every two years by the National Council of the Order of Architects and a synthesis of which was proposed in introduction to this annual day (complete study and synthesis to be found on the CNOA website).

2- the launch of a study on future competences and professions in architecture

Scope from December 2022 to June 2023 by the 20 national universities of architecture, with the collaboration of all stakeholders in the architecture sector. Funded under a call for expressions of interest France 2030, the objective of this study is to produce a socio-demographic portrait of the sector, an inventory of training courses in architecture, as well as diagnostics for the adaptation of these courses (initial and ongoing) to the needs of the sector, particularly on the topics of the digital transition, the ecological transition and work on the existing.

3- Undertaking a study on professional practices and gender inequalities in architecture

Strong initiative in favor of equality between women and men, consecrated great national cause by the President of the Republic, this study was entrusted to the laboratory workspaces of ENSA Paris La Villette. The first phase of this study will be devoted in 2023 to a quantitative survey on gender dynamics in architecture, professional practices and inequalities.

4- the prefiguration of an international comparison on export agencies

Initiated by AFEX, the National Council of Order and the trade unions, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, this work should lead to a first study in the next two years.

5- Implementation of an architecture value chain study

This study uses, from the perspective of missions, the value chain and economic logic, the 97 projects-winners of the experiment «Engaged for the quality of housing of tomorrow», with the aim of declining into missions, the work of architects in these innovative projects. With expected results at the end of 2023, this study responds to the need to have an economic perspective on the value of architectural skills in the overall value of a project.

Finally, on the occasion of this day, the Ministry of Culture wanted to remind the commitment of the State, which is making a €1 billion effort to structure, strengthen and transform the cultural and creative industries sector, including architecture.