PORTRAIT – Cédric Petitdidier and Vincent Prioux
by Jean-Philippe Hugron

What if the point of building were first and foremost to give all of us reassurance, a sense of safety even? Cédric Petitdidier and Vincent Prioux often bring up these two apt concepts in their explanations. ‘Building is an endeavour that requires a sizeable investment and, as such, some willingness to take risks, which are all the greater in a highly normative context. Being an architect means caring and — ultimately — providing reassurance,’ they say.

This vision soon comes to light when the two partners start talking in detail about their housing programmes. As it happens, they prefer the word dwellings : ‘there’s something primitive about the term — the idea of a safe haven, which touches upon the essence of the trade,’ they go on. Safety as well as protection. With the addition of a few essential refinements, including the ideas of threshold, space and journey. ‘Ingrained in architecture is this obvious challenge to fashion a life from the street up to internal relationships, from one volume to the next,’ they add.

Since 2009, the practice has designed, yes, residential buildings, but also offices, community facilities, mixed programmes, and even urban planning projects. Epitomising this progression is the Paris 2024 Olympic Village in L’Île-Saint-Denis, for which the firm undertook the delicate and complex task of coordinating several work packages to meet the project’s tight schedule.

Asked about the timing of it all, both partners say they are halfway through their careers. ‘It’s time for a shift!’ they joke. Something in that pronouncement speaks of an imperious desire to revive ‘that sense of urgency to do all that hasn’t been done before.’ In other words, these are two architects with a hunger for creating and building. The unknown? ‘Don’t you mean adventure?’ they quip. The practice — this school of energy — is now exporting its designs to Europe or MENA region. ‘We have found in this latest development the joy of discovery, and sometimes even the youthfulness of being an outsider,’ they comment. Two decades ago, the situation was really not all that different, though on a different scale. The project was in La Duchère, a suburb of Lyon. Fresh out of school, the two young professionals were pitched against seasoned competitors. Ultimately, buoyed by their inventive design, they won the contract.

Since then, the practice has been split between the Seine and the Rhône — Paris and Lyon. Two studios for two partners who were able to craft for themselves a solid work method. Each of them knows how to reorient the other’s views. Between them, as with anyone else, there are no absolute truths. Each project is an opportunity to put aside prerequisites and engage in a preliminary survey to reach crystal-clear focus. And design competitions provide ‘pleasant brushes with risk’, leading to the exercise of patiently conducted research. ‘In this trade, you have to master the art of conviction, while also leaving space for the voice of doubt,’ the two companions reflect. In other words, they need to show ‘a certain dexterity with the limits of each project.’ At the same time, both of them also care about staying open to being convinced. Reciprocity is the rallying cry here.

In the face of current times, Cédric Petitdidier and Vincent Prioux appear enthusiastic, yet critical. The object of their discontent : the contemporary refusal — paradoxical in the era of sustainability — to consider architecture as a long-term commitment. ‘Giving too much significance to the transient is a sign of fragility,’ they hypothesise. As a result, unmoved by temporary fads, their architecture has become an expression of stability, maybe even elegance, which they prefer over any other trend. Nonetheless, adaptability remains the hallmark of a curious mind. ‘Being an architect doesn’t mean finding answers to all questions, nor even imposing one’s dogma,’ they say. Indeed, how many crimes have been committed by serious thinkers wielding technical talk? Unrestrained, the practice has no specialty ; nor has it any interest in dealing only with the small circle of those in the know. Its language is clear and generous, unconcerned with jargon and abstruse drivel. For the duo, building is the splendid possibility for an art of light, and most importantly a higher perspective. And the chance to do so in a simple, humanistic — obviously universal — way.

As architects, we’ve forged our path with serendipitous intent: guided by a clear trajectory focused on city-making, and a willingness to embrace every twist and turn along the way. The crafting of urban spaces demands however a firm grasp of the intricacies at play, because the city is a realm of communication, representation and achievement. In essence, it is the theatre of our lives, where we are both the actors and the spectators.

Our architectural approach is anchored in five core principles:

Exploring: Our process is an inner quest to find the right emotion and gain deeper understanding of the project’s implications.

Venturing Abroad: Traveling around the globe enriches our outlook and fuels our creativity every day.

Learning Continuously: After two decades of practice, our appetite for learning remains insatiable. Every new project provides an opportunity to expand our knowledge.

Embracing Change: Change is inevitable and an inherent part of our journey. Embracing it is the key to bringing fresh perspectives on our concepts.

Adapting: The path we chart initially rarely aligns with the road we end up travelling, so we take every unforeseen development as a chance to improve our design.

We draw a clear line between the essential and the superfluous, consistently prioritising intent over form. All design evolutions are welcome, as long as the project’s principles and foundations remain untouched. That means we take great care in ensuring that the theoretical framework of our vision will not be impacted by unanticipated changes. We also believe that architecture should be simultaneously distinctive, connected to the city and domestic in spirit, bringing a sense security to users. That is why we perpetually strive to strike the perfect balance between sheltered and exposed spaces. The architect acts as a mediator between the needs of individuals and the community, a guide in shaping our evolving world. Our job is to ask ourselves what our lives will be like in the future: what will we look for in an increasingly connected, intense, and dense world?

In our future projects, we will continue to champion three fundamental principles for our urban and architectural vision:

Towards an Urban Ecosystem
Land-use planning can’t be reduced to single interventions, nor can architecture be concerned solely with constructing buildings. Built structures are not the only factor defining living environments: negative spaces must be considered the prime constituent of urban substance. As the backdrop of urbanscapes and a regulator of density, empty space will provide in the future a unifying element for envisioning a shared life together.

Sustainability and Resource Efficiency
In an era of dwindling resources, we design low-energy buildings to limit their environmental footprint. Materials are chosen with great care to reduce the project’s impacts both during construction and after delivery. Regardless of standards and certifications, we view material efficiency as the first step towards sustainability: the best materials for the planet are the ones we conserve, and the best assets for construction are the ones that fit together harmoniously and are utilized for their intrinsic qualities.

Mutation and Anticipation
In recognition of the environmental challenges we are facing, we are committed to extending the life of our buildings by planning ahead for future evolutions. Architecture must be designed to accommodate and adapt to changing needs, anticipating new uses throughout its life cycle. By minimising load-bearing structures, we open up spaces to support diversity and ensure maximal configurability, thus facilitating future reuse.

As we continue our journey, we are collectively crafting a sustainable, durable, and desirable city. Reducing our reliance on natural resources, preserving soil quality, and integrating green spaces will ultimately deliver ecosystems that support urban life durably. And to truly establish the desirability of cities within their communities, we pledge to deliver flexible designs that encourage social interactions and allow built spaces to adapt to the needs of individuals.

Cédric Petitdidier & Vincent Prioux