Lafarge is committed to help young architects through training programs. The Group also works to preserve heritage.
Training future architects in affordable housing with Studio+ |
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Studio+ is a project launched by the Group in December 2011. The principle is to make future architects work with various construction materials and, with Lafarge's help, find construction systems capable of responding to the challenges of affordable housing.
For 2011 and 2012, Studio + is targeting schools located in France, India and Romania:
Four other countries are currently being studied: North America, Brazil, Egypt and China.
In each country, students can follow academic courses tailored to local challenges, enhanced by the interventions of well-known local architects such as Anne Lacaton (France) and Françoise Pamfil (Roumanie). |
Partnerships with architecture schoolsLafarge contributes to the future architects' education through partnerships with prestigious schools across the world :
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Lafarge and heritage preservation |
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Lafarge has an active partnership with architects, both contemporary and
those working to preserve heritage. The Group believes it is vital to work with
architects involved in preservation. The aim is to work together to develop
products, applications and solutions for renovation and preservation by jointly
carrying out emblematic experiments and projects.
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FAQ 1 : The Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship (RMHF)
Lafarge
funds the RMHF program, a grant set up in 1990 and managed by the American
Architectural Foundation (AAF) and the French Heritage Society (FHS).
Each year, the RMHF panel alternately nominates a French or American Fellow
based on their professional qualities, projects and potential to become a
leader in their profession.
This very coveted international fellowship is aimed at French and American
architects in mid-career, specializing in the field of preservation and fluent
in French and English.
For 6 months, the Fellow can draw on a budget of 25,000 dollars to
travel, attend conferences, plan visits and arrange meetings with great
architects, engineers and preservation professionals.
Winners can also use the program to observe and practice the most modern
preservation techniques from each country visited. So far, 23 American and French Fellows have been reward by this unique program.
Maya Foty, AIA LEED, was named 2013 Fellow for her study "France-United States, a common challenge for sustainable heritage preservation", in which she looks at the introduction of sustainable materials into an historic context. Her motto is: "Preserving a building is the ultimate recycling project". She currently works as an associate at Architectural Resources Group in Portland (USA).
FAQ 2 : The Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, in Paris
Since February 2010, Lafarge partners with the "Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine" in Paris. This is an opportunity for the Group to continue its work into the new challenges of urban planning in association with the world of architecture.
FAQ 3 : The Louvre
Lafarge is a
partner of the Musée du Louvre since 1995. Originally, the Group took part in
scientific collaboration operations, offering the help of its R&D center
for heritage preservation purposes.
More recently, Lafarge acted as a sponsor for the
new Islamic Arts department, designed by Rudy Ricciotti and Mario Bellini.
Lafarge also contributes to its construction through the use of its materials.
The grand opening is due in June 2012.
FAQ 4 : The Fondation du Patrimoine
Willing to
strengthen its involvement in the local communities where it operates, the
Group signed a five-year sponsorship convention with the French Fondation du
Patrimoine in 2006. During this period, 20-odd heritage preservation and
promotion projects were supported by Lafarge.
Building on this success, Lafarge renewed its
partnership with the Fondation du Patrimoine early 2012 for five more years.
Three projects in France
have already been selected for sponsoring.
