What is Architecture?
The architecture department defines, coordinates and evaluates the state architecture policy. He is responsible for higher education and architecture research, within the Directorate-General for Assets.
Its mission is to promote creation and architectural quality, its action is divided into three areas:
- train and support architects,
- bringing quality architecture to life for private and public contractors,
- disseminate and promote architecture to all audiences at national and international level.
He oversees higher education in architecture in France through a network of 20 national architecture colleges (ENSA) spread over the whole territory (six in Paris and Ile-de-France and fourteen in the region). This network has been strongly modernized and structured since 2003 by anticipating the constraints of public funding (pooling of teaching and human and budgetary resources) and by adopting a new curriculum in line with the requirements of the European reform of the LMD (licence-master-doctorate).
The ENSA, which have benefited from extensive rehabilitation and extension work, have also become partners in the new university structures by integrating the PRES (Research and Higher Education Poles) and then the COMUE (Communities of universities and institutions) and doctoral schools to contribute, on themes specific to the development of territories, to the poles of excellence in constitution.
In addition, the architecture department the activity and conditions of practice of architects. He ensures the application of the legislation concerning them, to accompany them throughout their career. He is attentive to the economic weight of the profession in the construction sector.
Support for professionals is also reflected in initiatives to promote young talents in the fields of architecture and landscape, carried out at national and European level. The European extension of Albums of young architects and landscapers », as well as efforts to promote access to architectural competitions for young students and professionals, reflect this desire to support architects from the outset.
He also offers his expertise in the field of project management. It is invested in the policy of safeguarding and developing sites and ensures that the quality of architecture and the protection of heritage are taken into account in the design and conduct of land, landscape and city planning actions.
It disseminates architectural culture in a perspective of animation and valorization to all audiences. In particular, it ensures the development of dissemination structures through the technical and financial support it provides: City of Architecture and Heritage (CAPA), Architectural, urban and environmental councils (CAUE), Houses of Architecture (MA), Cities and Countries of Art and History (VPAH) , etc. The latter are effective relays of the policy of the Ministry of Culture and Communication and implement actions of Awareness of architecture and living environment, especially in school settings.
Finally, it helps the audiovisual publications and productions aimed at enhancing the importance and challenges of architecture.