The Festival des Architectures Vives (FAV) is launching the open call for its 21st edition, taking place in Montpellier from 15 to 20 June 2027. Under the theme “Shared Happiness” (“Bonheur partagé”), the festival invites young professionals in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning and related disciplines to design temporary installations within the historic courtyards of Montpellier’s private mansions.
A festival at the intersection of heritage and contemporary creation
Since 2006, the Festival des Architectures Vives has brought together contemporary architecture and historic heritage by transforming the private courtyards of Montpellier’s historic mansions into temporary spaces for artistic and architectural experimentation.
Usually private and inaccessible to the public, these courtyards open their doors during the festival, creating a unique architectural journey through Montpellier’s historic Écusson district. Each selected team is invited to design an installation specifically for a heritage site, establishing a dialogue between place, work and public.
The FAV offers young professionals an opportunity to experiment with architectural ideas in an exceptional heritage context, while bringing contemporary creation into direct contact with a broad and diverse audience.
A call to envision “Shared happiness”
For its 21st edition, the FAV invites participating teams to explore how architecture can create the conditions for encounter, curiosity, wonder and sharing.
The aim is not to represent or illustrate happiness, but to imagine situations capable of making it tangible — through a gesture, a material, light, movement, use or interaction.
Projects may be generous, playful, contemplative, surprising or participatory, while developing a distinctive relationship with the site that hosts them, its history and its uses.
The theme takes on particular significance in 2027, which marks the 50th anniversary of France’s 1977 Architecture Act. The law established that “architecture is an expression of culture” and recognised the quality of the built environment as a matter of public interest.
A theme developed with Chris Younès
The 2027 edition is accompanied by Chris Younès, philosopher, professor at the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris and specialist in the relationships between architecture, philosophy, urban planning and ways of inhabiting.
Her essay, “The City as a Common Body: Towards a Joyful Architecture of Sharing”, provides a framework for reflection for the participating teams.
Who can apply?
The open call is aimed at young professionals in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning and related disciplines.
Teams may be multidisciplinary, but must include at least one qualified architect. Applicants must hold a Master’s-level degree or equivalent qualification.
The FAV aims to support and showcase emerging architectural practices, providing selected teams with a unique setting in which to experiment, develop a project and engage directly with the public.
A project designed to adapt to different sites
Projects are selected independently of a specific courtyard. Applicants must therefore develop proposals capable of adapting to different types of sites.
Following the selection process, each team will be assigned the courtyard best suited to its project. Technical information relating to the selected sites — including plans, surveys and site-specific constraints — will then be provided to the winning teams.
Each selected team will receive a €1,500 grant, including VAT, towards the production of its installation.
Application requirements :
Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file, no larger than 10 MB, containing:
+ Application form, downloaded from the FAV website, completed and signed;
+ CVs of all team members;
+ An illustrated portfolio highlighting previous projects, competitions and installations;
+ A statement of intent responding to the 2027 theme, “Shared Happiness”, outlining the main ideas behind the proposed project;
+ A 3D visualisation illustrating the proposal.
How to apply
Application deadline: 7 December 2026
https://festivaldesarchitecturesvives.com/appel-a-candidatures/
Timeline
7 December 2026 – Application deadline
Early January 2027 – Announcement of selected teams
February 2027 – Site visit in Montpellier
9-14 June 2027 – Set up
15-20 June 2027 – Festival
21 June 2027 – Dismantling
Installation and dismantling must be carried out by the participating teams themselves.
A record-breaking 20th edition in 2026
The 2027 open call follows the success of the FAV’s 20th anniversary edition, which welcomed nearly 18,000 visitors over six days.
Held in June 2026 under the theme “Transmission”, the anniversary edition adopted an original format, inviting former FAV participants to return as mentors and accompany emerging teams throughout their creative process.
The initiative highlighted the transmission of knowledge and practices between generations, while bringing together 40 French and international participants, including teams from Japan, Canada, South Korea, Italy, Portugal and France.
A total of 13 temporary installations were presented in Montpellier’s historic courtyards, alongside talks, round tables and discussions focusing on architecture, experimentation and transmission.
A festival committed to reuse
The FAV also continues to develop its commitment to more sustainable approaches to architecture and event production.
In 2026, the installations contributed to avoiding 12,275 kg of CO₂ equivalent emissions, while 3.7 tonnes of materials were incorporated into a reuse loop following the festival.
An open-air laboratory, accessible to all
Since its creation, the Festival des Architectures Vives has championed an approach to architecture that is experimental, accessible and open to the widest possible audience.
By opening normally inaccessible heritage sites to the public and making the festival entirely free, the FAV transforms Montpellier’s historic centre into an open-air laboratory for a few days each year.
For the selected teams, the festival provides an opportunity to develop an experimental architectural installation, engage with a unique heritage site, and encounter a large and diverse audience.
Festival des Architectures Vives
Montpellier, France – 15–20 June 2027
21st edition – “Shared Happiness”
Open call deadline: 7 December 2026
