Festival Des Architectures Vives - Montpellier June 2025
Whilst I was staying in Montpellier the annual 'Festival Des Architecture Vives' took place in the old city centre. Visitors are able to follow an itenierary round buildings and houses often not accessible to the public and each one has a site specific art installation.
There were 13 places to visit and as you walk from one to the next you get the bonus of discovering parts of the city you may otherwise miss. We did it in two afternoons as really you need a whole day to do it properly.
One of my photographic interests is old doorways and it was wonderful to go through some of these beautiful huge, grand doors instead of imagining how it looks behind.
This year was the 19th year that the festival has been running and the creative theme this year was 'La Gourmandise'. Gluttony and culinary pleasure inspired immersive installations, including spaces redesigned as sensory laboratories, where materials, light and proportions transform the space.
I went around the tour with my lovely French friend and architect from Montpellier, Francoise, who had visited it last year. My friend Sophia and I enjoyed it very much, it was such a treat to experience the Architecture and Art in combination. We spend several hours walking around the fabulous streets of this city.
Some buildings were more beautiful than others and some projects were more interesting than others. The ones that worked the best in my opinion were where the building and choice of art were sympathetic. Some projects looked great in the space but in my opinion went off the brief too much. See my comments about my three favourites.
No 1 'Portrait D'Une Planete (ReCITYing)' - Universite de Genova (UNIGE)
Hôtel Saint-Côme - CCI - 32 Grand rue Jean Moulin
Inside this beautiful historic building is an amphitheatre built in 1752, for anatomical demonstrations, by Francois Gigot. Alongside two houses to accommodate master surgeons. It is said to have sober elegance and beautiful proportions. Today the Amphitheatre of Saint-Cosme Anatomy houses the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Montpellier and was made a historic building in 1945.
What the UNIGE team said about their project
We are consuming the resources of our planet. Earth Overshoot Day for the European Union, on April 29th, marks the date when humanity's demand in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in a year. The installation asks us 'If at a moments notice the Sun explodes, can humans today say they have taken full advantage the Earth has given them?' This reflection inspired giant golden candies strewn about, symbols of both sweetness and also of our insatiable appetite.
My comments about No 1 'Portrait D'Une Planete'
When I entered this courtyard to see the first installation, it was both dramatic and eye catching. The yellow tone of the stone building in combination with the golden sweet wrappers was very successful. The place was alive, bright and inviting - like a giant oversized children's play centre. This was an interesting and striking contrast to the serious depressing subject it was asking us to consider. The building was magnificent and I thought the choice of subject for the installation fitted the space really well it was simple strong and most effective.
No 2 'Jeanine' - Justine Vaila
Hôtel d’Hortolès - 15 rue des Trésoriers de la Bourse
The original Medieval house was re built in 1671 by the mason Jean Bonnassier for Philippe de Bornier. The facade of Hotel d'Hortoles comprises a quadrilateral with a central courtyard and grand sculpted staircase on the ground floor.
What Justine said about her project...
Flowers and the world of gourmandise share a common sensory language, where colours, textures, and scents awaken our senses. Suspended in the heart of a verdant courtyard, 'Jeanine' watches over, an immense and delicate flower, that attracts, guides and envelops visitors. It awakens the sense of smell, invites a surprising and ephemeral discovery, evoking pleasure and the unexpected.
No 3 'Chaume Sublime' COAT conditions atmospheres d'espace, Julia Fraolini – Felix Steinbacher
Hôtel des Trésoriers de la Bourse - 4 rue des Trésoriers de la Bourse
The largest Hôtel in Montpellier was originally built in the 17th century, designed by Jean Giral. Numerous alterations were made in the 19th century, giving it its current appearance in the Hausmann style. It features two interior courtyards, a grand staircase and a French-style garden. The building served as location where royal money was safely stored until the French Revolution.
The details on this building are really beautiful I was particularly taken by this beautiful drainpipe.
What Julia and Felix say about their project....
'Chaume Sublime' interprets gastronomy as a multi sensory discovery in three stages: the presentation of food on the dish; anticipation of eating the food; and then the taste when eaten. Inspired by this analogy the installation transforms an ordinary material, reed grass, into an novel immersive experience. It is sustainable and making architecture part of a circular approach.
My comments about No 3 'Chaume Sublime'
There are two reasons for choosing this project: firstly the building was magnificent, the courtyard breathtaking in its beauty and elegance and was my favourite courtyard in the whole trail. The installation made it even more intriguing and ticked all the boxes - it was well made, suited the environment, fitted the brief, was made from sustainable materials and included the viewer by being fun and interactive. If I was to change anything I would have not used white as the material on the outside of the piece.
I could not resist this photo opportunity and breathing in the smell of the reed grass.
No 4 'Paysage De Pain' - Mero Studios: Megan Dang & Rose Zhang
Hôtel de Lunas - 10 rue de la Valfère
The first large house overlooking the rampart path was built in 1550. The building was transformed from 1671, then enlarged and updated in 1707, before Antoine-Jean Viel de Lunas acquired it in 1737. The hotel's footprint was further extended when the ramparts were dismantled during the Revolution. Remodeled again by Félix Sabatier in the mid-19th, the complex was donated to the national monuments in 1974.
What Megan and Rose of Mero studios said about their project ..
In France, bread is essential to daily life, yet its abundance often leads to waste. 'Paysage de Pain' transforms this symbol of waste into an immersive architectural
experience. The installation explores gluttony not as excess, but as a lens for sustainable reinvention. It is constructed from reformed baguettes. The structure is a dialogue between indulgence with the urgency of environmental responsibility.
No 5 'Madeleine De Proust' - Elodie Cottar & Florine Cottar
Hôtel d’Aurès - 14 rue Eugène Lisbonne
The original hotel was rebuilt in 1718, then sold in 1763 to Jean-Pierre Aures who remodelled the interiors. From 1811 it was inherited by succeeding generations of the Mercier family. But in 1868, the city of Montpellier planned to redevelop the area compulsorily purchased the hotel. Since then, the city owns the building that now houses the National Music Conservatory of the city of Montpellier, and was classified a historical monument in 1951.
What Florine and Elodie said about their project ..
The first lessons of life are learned through the mouth and are heightened by the pleasure of indulgence, which children embrace wholeheartedly. Allowing oneself a moment of indulgence to reconnect with a sense of carefree lightness, appreciate and rediscover our taste for things. Our installation features over 9000 coloured pencils, with a cloud of hanging Post-it notes. Visitors can write down cherished food memory or a moment of pure joy then either take them away or hang their notes with others.
No 6 'Ribote' - Benjamin Borne
Faculté de Médecine - 2 rue de l’École de Médecine
The Faculty of Medicine of Montpellier, founded in 1220, is the oldest university in
the world for the study of medicine. It celebrated its 800th anniversary in 2020 and 2021 and was celebrated by a commemorative postage stamp. Its motto refers to the Hippocratic tradition: Olim Cous nunc Monspeliensis Hippocrates (Once, Hippocrates was from Kos, now he is from Montpellier).
What Benjamin said about his project.....
'Ribote' means overindulgence in food. As soon as you pass the porch, the apparent stability of the rigid framework falters. A hundred mirrors make the yard dance and flashes of light tint the space with saturated light. Sparkles of colour speckle the façades either motionless or moving, our eyes become the sole driving force of this work. The installation plays with our perception and disrupts our senses.
No 7 'La Langue Gustative' - Studio Deng Qicheng & Meichen Wang
Hôtel de Rozel - 2 Ter rue Saint-Pierre
The Hôtel originally belonged to the Benedictines of Aniane who lost it during wars of religion in the 16th century. François de Rozel then took possession of the house. In 1837, the whole building was rebuilt and the windows were inserted overlooking the courtyard. In the 19th century, the building was acquired by the city for education establishments. This acquisition forced the restoration in a mid-nineteenth century and late neoclassical style.
What Studio Deng said about their project ...
What if the perception of taste could be shared, touched, and reimagined? A metallic tongue flows down from the windowsill and around one hundred taste buds in four types grow from the tongue and sway in the wind. 'The Tasting Tongue' invites visitors to insert more taste buds in the metallic tongue and join in sensing the courtyard.
No 8 'L'Apres Des Dechets' - Institut d'architecture avancee de Catalogne (IAAC)
Hôtel Audessan - 9 rue de la Vieille Intendance
Hôtel Audessan is in the old gothic quarter. The main door has beautiful acanthus stone details on the more geometric pediments. It has had several notable residents. In the 17th century the Duke of Verneuil - illegitimate son of Henry IV. In the 19th century, the philospher and mathematician Auguste Comte and Paul Valéry the poet in the 20th century.
What the IAAC team said about their project....
At the Parc Agrari del Baix Llobregat, Barcelona, a community of creatives, international researchers, and local farmers joined forces to reimagine the relationship between people, food, and land to create a living land piece. A smaller version was recreated here at FAV to bring agricultural awareness into the urban realm and highlight circular design. It also explores the link between Architecture and Gourmandise while cultivating sustainable resources.
No 9 'Reciprocite Un Pavillion Pour Le Futur' - Association Quatorze
Ancienne auberge de jeunesse de Montpellier - Impasse de la Petite Corraterie
This site, in the Corraterie neighbourhood, was occupied by modest dwellings, stables, and barns in the Middle Ages. The term corraterie originally referred to leather craftsmen, later to merchants, brokers, and horse dealers. In the mid-19th century, the brothers of the Christian schools added a chapel. In 1880 the hotel became a municipal school, then in 1980s until 2020, a youth hostel. Today, the building is being developed into an infill housing project.
What the Association Quatorze said about their project ....
Community and institutional partners are proposing a three-year infill housing program, in line with the Montpellier Zero Slums (MB) initiative led by the Quatorze association. A 15m2 pavilion of the future, illustrates the spirit of the project: a reciprocal framework that wraps around itself to form a structure based on solidarity and interdependence. Here, architecture and gourmet food come together in shared gestures: assembling, sharing, uniting, and offering.
No 10 'Temple (The Last Cheesebuger)' - Michael Cook USA & Garth Goldstein UK
Hôtel De Grave - DRAC - 5 Rue de la Salle l'Évêque
The Hôtel de Grave is on the site of the former residence of the Maguelone bishops.
Two renowned 17th century architects, Simon Levesville and Charles Augustin Daviler, enabled Jean de Sartre, to build one of the most beautiful houses in Montpellier. It is named after one of the former owners Henri François de Grave, who bought the house in 1714. This hotel was acquired by the State in 1971 to house the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
What Michael and Garth said about their project.....
People like to eat cheeseburgers - around two billion each year in France alone! It takes a lot of water to make a single cheeseburger, the equivalent to about 5000 500ml plastic water bottles. The proposal imagines a not-too-distant future, where global warming has necessitated much stricter water-rationing and many popular foods are banned. The installation thus serves as a temple dedicated to preserving a memory of the very last cheeseburger, and of all the water that went into making it.
No 11 'Calade Exquise' - Collectif Œuvrer
Hôtel Sabatier d'Espeyran - 6 bis rue Montpelliéret
The 19th century Hôtel Cabrières-Sabatier d'Espeyran is home to the Decorative Arts department of Montpellier's Musée Fabre. The building was bequeathed to the city with the aim of including a decorative arts section within neighbouring building of the Musée Fabre. The Musée Fabre, Montpellier now cocntains an exceptional collection that offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of bourgeois and aristocratic society in the 18th and 19th centuries.
What the Œuvrer said about their project .....
The teaspoon, in collective imagination, is symbol of pleasure and gluttony. Combined with dessert, it is the perfect and gourmet moment everyone is waiting for during meal
time. In the South of France, 'calade' is a traditional paving technique with stones. The paved path is inspired by the patterns of spoons in the museum and by the architecture of the Hôtel. By repurposing this daily and familiar object, the installation aims to enhance the courtyard's floor and highlight this ancient and endangered technique.
My comments about No 11 'Calade Exquise'
This duo was visually very beautiful in every way, the installation and the courtyard it inhabited fitted perfectly together. Both were so serene, the geometric designs and colour palette complimented each other and transported me to Morocco, one of my favourite places in the world. Spoons have so much symbolism in art and food culture and the mass use of this utensil was effective and fitted the brief. As a jeweller I find silversmith spoons particularly beautiful and fascinating objects. The pile of spoons in the pretty font-like structure was very sculptural and the simplicity of them laid semi buried in patterns in the sand was mesmerising.
No12 'Ang Halaga Ng Tsokolate' - WTA Architecture Design Studio
Hôtel de Griffy - 26 rue de l'Aiguillerie
The Hotel de Grify was built with three old houses owned by the Griffys, a family of Italian merchants, at the end of the 15th century. The last constructions were from the 16th century. In 1758, Garsinde de Roquefeuil requested permission to have two animals representing her family's arms placed at the end of the entablature. The Hôtel de Griffy was classified as a historical monument in 1944.
What WTA Studio said about their project ...
'Ang Halaga Ng Tsokolate' (or the value of chocolate) highlights chocolate's historical and commercial significance as an exclusive luxury while cocoa-exporting countries struggled with farmer poverty. The installation features hundreds of suspended chocolate bars, appearing as scattered fragments. When viewed from the entrance of the Hotel de Griffy courtyard these pieces align to form a French two Euro coin. Each bar has a reflective backing to reflect the viewer, reminding them of their role as consumers.
No 13 'Ebullition' - Simon Barrett & Sebastien Bonnerot
Hôtel Baschy-de-Cayla - 1 rue Embouque d'Or
Successive dwellings rebuilt over the centuries still preserve the building overlooking
Rue de la Monnaie, dating from 1636. François Baschy, Marquis du Cayla, finely
modified and decorated the complex from 1755. Montpellier became the owner of Hotel Baschy during the Second Empire, and hosted the Relais des Enfants there until recently, which runs activities outside of school hours. It was registered as a historical monument in 1990.
What Simon and Sébastien said about their project...
'Ébullition' explores gluttony by meeting the visitor with a smooth and soft surface
punctuated by monochromatic shells. The platform is a disc, to evoke sharing. From one bubble to another, standing or lying down, sitting or hopping, with hands or feet, visitors explore the soft, fluffy and bouncing. Like a cookie or a fruit pie, the different materials promise flavors and fun. This condensed network of gourmet objects offers an infinite number of possibilities to explore with the eyes or the body.
