S7#5 🇺🇸🇬🇧 SPOT "Architect : who are you really?"

·23 min·2 clips

Anne-Charlotte asks architects who they really are, tracing the profession back to Neolithic stone homes and her own family legacy.

The episode opens with Anne-Charlotte introducing the question 'Architect: who are you really?', which she has been asking since 2017. She references Christine Lecombe's France Inter segment on the history of the architect's job, noting that Imhotep might not be the first architect as defined today. The host then shifts to the Neolithic farm on Papa Westray in Scotland, dating to the 4th millennium BC, as an early example of stone construction. She details the linguistic history of 'architect', from its first use in Greek by Herodotus to its appearances in French, Dutch, and English texts. The French Academy Dictionary definition is read, explaining the term's roots in 'archi' (chief) and 'tecton' (builder), and noting the recent acceptance of feminine forms. Anne-Charlotte shares her personal connection to architecture through family members like her uncle Paul Dupont, a modernist architect, and her great-grandfather Félix Boiret, who built Parisian buildings in the early 1900s. She reflects on her early exposure to the profession, dominated by men, and her internship experiences. The host discusses Jean Nouvel as a famous French architect and critiques the Mitterrand era's architectural competitions. She mentions the recent death of architect Henry Sirianni, praising his thoughtful approach. Anne-Charlotte then examines modern architecture, criticizing the 'black outfit' trend and the influence of 'Archistar' culture, exemplified by the Guggenheim in Bilbao. She questions whether architects should focus only on monuments and warns of ethical decay in virtual design environments. Citing Hannah Arendt's philosophy, she links evil to a lack of thought and calls for architects to maintain humanity and integrity. The episode concludes with a reminder about a GRDF event on carbon challenges and a hope for more female architects. Throughout, the host blends historical analysis, personal anecdotes, and philosophical reflection.

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