Festival des Architectures Vives
Architecture in Montpellier, Hérault
About Festival des Architectures
The Festival des Architectures Vives (FAV) is a free contemporary architecture trail that unfolds each year in the courtyards of the private mansions in Montpellier's historic center, usually closed to the public. Created in 2006 by Élodie Nourrigat and Jacques Brion (Association Champ Libre), it highlights a young generation of architects, landscape architects, and designers through ephemeral installations specially designed for each location.
The Festival des Architectures Vives
Since 2006, the Festival des Architectures Vives (FAV) has transformed Montpellier's historic center into a true architectural discovery trail. Organized by Association Champ Libre, founded by architects Élodie Nourrigat and Jacques Brion, it annually invites young teams of architects, landscape architects, and designers to create ephemeral installations in the courtyards of private mansions, heritage sites often private and inaccessible the rest of the year.
Each installation dialogues with the architecture of its host location and offers the public a sensitive, playful, and reflective experience around contemporary creation. The festival, entirely free, appeals to architecture enthusiasts as well as the general public and families.
Festival des Architectures — edition 2026
For 2026, the Festival des Architectures Vives celebrates its 20th edition in Montpellier, from June 9 to 14, on the theme of Transmission. A unique anniversary edition that invites emblematic teams from past editions to take on a mentoring role for the new generation, in the courtyards of historic private mansions. Free admission.
FAV 2026 — 20th edition, Transmission
From June 9 to 14, 2026, the Festival des Architectures Vives celebrates its twentieth anniversary in Montpellier. To mark this anniversary, the FAV is evolving its traditional format and offering an edition focused on Transmission: what is shared, what connects generations, what passes from hand to hand in the act of creating.
Emblematic teams from previous editions have been invited to play an unprecedented role as mentors to the selected young teams, in a symbolic handover. Julien Tuffery, head of Atelier Tuffery, is the patron of this anniversary edition.
As every year, the route takes over the courtyards of the historic private mansions, exceptionally open to the public, with custom-designed ephemeral installations. Access is entirely free.
Programme Festival des Architectures 2026
2026 Route — 13 installations
The route of the 20th edition brings together 13 installations designed by young teams of architects and designers, in the courtyards of Montpellier's private mansions:
- Panache de Lumière — Ateliers A+
- Le Sens du Détail — Amandine Courtaillac et Guillaume Debeze
- Sablier — Collectif Nou(e)s
- Une Ombre Bleue Devient une Relique — Collectif Natura Urbana
- Raconte Moi un Secret — Coletivo624
- Transphères — Atelier Mousqueton
- La Lyre et la Couronne — Estéban Le Magnen
- 운지 (雲紙) — The Suspended Cloud — OFNN Group
- Vertige — Ateliers A+
- Mât-tiers — Calada Architectes et Atelier Moschata
- Le Continuum Comme Espace-temps — Charles-Antoine Lauzon et Marie Laurence Durand
- Liminalité en Mouvement — Yurica Design & Architecture
- Téisser — Laetitia Rejany et Iacha Perget
Edition patron: Julien Tuffery (Atelier Tuffery). Installations with free access from June 9 to 14, from 9 AM to 7 PM.
Highlights Festival des Architectures 2026
- 20th anniversary edition of the festival
- 2026 Theme: Transmission
- 13 ephemeral installations in the courtyards of private mansions
- Teams from past editions invited as mentors
- Patron: Julien Tuffery (Atelier Tuffery)
- Completely free admission
Prices Festival des Architectures 2026
Practical information — Festival des Architectures
Practical Information
Access: The festival takes place in the historic center of Montpellier, in the courtyards of private mansions. The route is marked, and a welcome/information pavilion is located at 32 Grand Rue Jean Moulin.
Price: Entry is completely free for everyone.
Contact: Association Champ Libre, 4 rue des Trésoriers de la Bourse, 34000 Montpellier — 04 67 92 51 17 — [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Festival des Architectures
Cours des hôtels particuliers du centre historique
4 rue des Trésoriers de la Bourse, 34000 Montpellier (siège Association Champ Libre), 34000 Montpellier