Is there a distinctive architectural mission in rural territories? Are they simply peri-urban areas like any others? Under the initiative of Hervé Dubois and Christophe Ouhayoun, co-presidents of the State Consulting Architects (ACE) in 2023, these questions were placed at the heart of this seminar, organized in collaboration with A H A and Demain Matin.
Bercy Village, Olympic Village, Village Saint-Martin… Cities increasingly imagine themselves as “villages.” But what about our capacity to revive the historic centers of rural towns — those 15-minute walk villages — now slowly fading away? Today’s crises and transitions — the zero artificialization objective, the renewed attention to local productions, and the rise of remote work — invite us to reconsider a new kind of urban citizenship in centers with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants. These small towns are the primary field of action for the State Consulting Architects: trusted partners of mayors who often lack resources or feedback, but never motivation. If the rural urban fabric is built on proximity and complementarity, then perhaps that same closeness between clients, designers, and residents can profit ACE architects.
But there is not one rurality — there are many ruralities. As Simon Teyssou, Grand Prix de l’Urbanisme, reminded us, we must contextualize and make concrete proposals for the somewheres — those rooted in their territories — at a time when nowheres can live and work almost anywhere: in the countryside, in the city, or even in airports (recognize yourself?). Florian Camani offered a detour through the suburban landscapes of the United States, exploring the possible avatars of that enduring fantasy: the single-family home (Suburban Housing Alternative, 2024). The young collective Âtre suggested that architects and inhabitants can mutually enrich one another through project residencies. And finally, Bernard Quirot of Pesmes (Haute-Saône) and Giacomo Guidotti of Monte-Carasso (Ticino) said that if they didn’t exist, we’d have to invent them.We remain fascinated by the phantasmagoric visions of Claude-Nicolas Ledoux (1736-1806) and by the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, which alone encapsulates the entire story of rurality: from presumed infinite natural resources, labor abundance, industrialization, deindustrialization, neglect, and revival through heritage (thank you, Malraux), to the current risk of disconnecting from the concerns of today’s residents — even as it shines among the most remarkable sites in France.
The moral of the story: we are always someone else’s rural. But better yet — read the full Deeds of the seminar: you’ll see that small towns aren’t the future — they’re the now.
Étincelles rurales, Actes du séminaire des ACE à Arc-en-Senans (25)
Editorial direction and writing: Hervé Dubois, Christophe Ouhayoun, A H A, and Hugo Christy. Graphic design: A H A (Annabelle Hagmann & Maud Yvon). 120 pages — ISBN: 978-2-9587633-1-2
