by Christian Horn

A small French city tackled a very large topic when the fourth annual architectural conference "Archilab" met in Orléans to ponder "Earth Economics."

As in past years, the curators Marie-Ange Brayer and Béatrice Simonot offered innovative architectural research programs, exploring the range of approaches and projects of the participating architects. Their goal is to create, through an openness and curiosity toward all innovative movements, a space for a creative discussion about the challenges of architecture today.

Since its beginning in 1999, Archilab has become a landmark event for up-and-coming architects from around the world. In just four years, the work of 140 teams of architects has been exhibited, and over 300 architects and critics have come to Orléans to participate in a raft of meetings, events, and discussions for a cumulative audience of around 50,000.

Organized by the City of Orléans, this event has the support of the Regional Center for Contemporary Art (FRAC Center), whose activities and sphere of influence in architectural circles are outstanding. These conferences have turned the town into an international forum for architectural debate.

In previous years, Archilab raised questions about the architect's changing profession, new urban phenomena throughout the world, and the choices for dwellings between individualization and standardization.   >>>

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