Architecture Competition Rammed Earth Pavilion Student prize winner – École nationale supérieure d'architecture de Grenoble

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Student prize winner of our "Rammed Earth Pavilion" competition – Florestan Lacroix  from France!

Student Award winner from France 

I was born on July 12, 1998 in Besançon, eastern France. I started studying architecture at the school of architecture in Lyon where I was able to do my bachelor degree, my first cycle in 2018. I then chose to study architecture at the school of Grenoble, for my second cycle the master in 2021. The Grenoble school of architecture is quite famous in the field of earthen architecture because it hosts the research laboratory CraTerre, specialized in the valorization of the raw earth heritage and the know-how that goes with it.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been involved?

I'm still a student, I'm in my last year and I haven't realized any project in my name but during my previous internships I was involved in various projects such as the Solar Decathlon Europe where we were able to realize renderings clays plasters. Lately on my last internship in an Indian agency based in Bangalore I was able to familiarize myself with the local traditional building techniques.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

I think that the architect as an artist and a technician has to play an important role in our contemporary societies and in particular in relation to the environmental and socio-cultural issues we are going through today. The construction sector represents a very important part of the greenhouse gas emissions and our activities cannot continue like this. Traditional vernacular and low-tech building techniques can also help us find sustainable solutions for the future of our buildings.



Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

This Rammed earth pavilion competition is the first one in which I participate. Friends from my graduating class had already participated in competitions and some had also received awards. I decided to enter this competition on my own because I really like the theme. I wanted to explore my design abilities with this very particular and sensitive material but also to find my own architectural sensibility. For some times I wanted to approach the technical aspect of the implementation of the Rammed earth and its potentials of prefabrication whose craze does not cease growing in this field. 

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

I think that participation in architecture competitions is beneficial in all cases. It allows you to confront both your own ideas and the sensibilities of cultures and universities around the world. I love the diversity that the field of architecture offers and I am delighted to see so many different profiles and sensibilities winning the various competition prizes. The ways of doing and learning architecture are countless! and it is always extremely enriching to see what other architecture students are doing around the world. Thank you all...