The guiding idea of this special edition: Transmission

In 2026, the Festival des Architectures Vives has chosen to highlight an invisible yet essential dimension of creation: transmission—what is shared, passed on, and what connects us.

To transmit is far more than simply conveying knowledge or a gesture. It is about creating a living link between the giver and the receiver, between the hands that shape and the minds that imagine. It is the circulation of a way of seeing, understanding, and building the world—a heritage in motion.

In Montpellier, within the courtyards of private mansions, this notion resonates deeply. These spaces embody the delicate balance between tradition and modernity made possible through transmission. They are places where the past constantly converses with the present. Here, artisanal know-how meets new ideas, and inherited techniques encounter emerging technologies. Architecture becomes a living language, in constant evolution.

Because building is never a solitary act. Architecture is nourished by ancestral gestures and fresh perspectives. Know-how—whether manual or intellectual—is at the heart of this dynamic. It is not merely a set of techniques, but a way of seeing the world, a sensibility passed from knowledge keepers to future bearers. It encourages us to weave links between generations, but also between disciplines and cultures. It gives meaning to continuity, while opening the door to creativity.

By celebrating transmission for its 20th edition, FAV 2026 pays tribute to that invisible yet vital thread that runs through generations of architects, artisans, builders, and thinkers. A thread woven from trust, attentiveness, and transformation. A collective journey, turned toward tomorrow.

The Mentors of the 2026 Edition

The mentor will not participate as the designer of an installation but will instead play a role rooted in guidance and knowledge transfer. This role is conceived as a symbolic passing of the baton, an act of trust toward the new generation. The final installation remains the outcome of a shared process.

Mentors : 

• Régis Roudil
  Atelier Régis Roudil 
  Aix en provence, France
  FAV 2013
  
  
• Moonwalk Local collective
  Lucas Geoffriau, Etienne Henry, Camille Ricard, Axel Adam and Xin Luo
  Bordeaux, France
  FAV 2014 
  
  
• Agence Spatiale
  Marianne Charbonneau and Étienne Bernier
  Quebec, Canada
  FAV 2011 and FAV 2015
  
  
• Tohru Horiguchi
  Higashiosaka (Osaka Prefecture), Japan
  FAV 2009 - Participation with Tohoku University 
  
  
• Álvaro González Serrano and Jennyfher Alvarado Figueroa
  Gonzalez Serrano Studio + and J-AF Architecture
  Madrid and Pamplona, Spain
  FAV 2024
  
  
• Vicente Spínola
  FRACTAL
  Porto, Portugal
  FAV 2023 
  
  
• Nicola Canessa 
  Genoa, Italy
  FAV 2011 and FAV 2016 at la Grande Motte
  
  
• Les ateliers O-S Architectes
  Gaël Le Nouëne, Guillaume Colboc and Vincent Baur
  Paris, France
  FAV 2008 
  
  
• Luc Léotoing and Chloé Mariey
  Luc Léotoing Paysage urbanisme and GRAMA Architecture
  Clermont-Ferrand, France
  FAV 2007 and 2015 (Luc), FAV 2016 at la Grande Motte (Chloé)
  

Special Guest Mentors: Ateliers A+ 

Christophe Aubailly, Clément Rabourdin, Fabien Thuile, Gilles Gal, Philippe Bonon, Philippe Cervantes, and Vincent Nogaret

Montpellier, France

Unlike the nine other mentors—each of whom previously participated in the FAV—Ateliers A+ has never taken part in the festival before. However, their presence this year feels entirely natural: since their founding, they have made transmission a true driving force of their practice. By progressively integrating new partners, regularly welcoming young graduates, and offering them an environment conducive to growth, Ateliers A+ fully embodies the spirit of sharing and renewal that shapes this edition.

Their strong roots in Montpellier also make them distinguished guests whose contribution will enrich this special edition of the FAV.