Forgotten Funds

How did a collection of exceptional plans escape oblivion? It was a simple wooden crate that led to the rediscovery of an extraordinary collection: 93 plans, elevations, and artistic drawings created by architecture students in Rouen between 1879 and 1970. Donated to the school in the 1990s by architect and professor Paul Revert, this collection was transferred to the Departmental Archives in 2019 by the École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Normandie (ENSAN) and has just been cataloged under reference number 5976 W.

France's first school of architecture

The drawing school founded in Rouen in the 18th century became the School of Fine Arts and, by decree in 1904, the Rouen Regional School of Architecture— the first school of architecture established in France.

The school has been located in several places: it was founded within the Cloth Hall in 1904, moved to Aître Saint-Maclou in 1940, and finally settled in 1984 on the site of the former Fromage factory in Darnétal.

Drawings of remarkable quality

Cataloged and analyzed, this collection showcases the work of students from the School of Fine Arts and later the Regional School of Architecture; Art Deco is beautifully represented here. It is a collection of great interest to all architecture students and researchers.

Six architects were identified, including:

• Alexandre Marcel, who enrolled at the Rouen School of Fine Arts in 1879 and was the recipient of several Prix de Rome awards; six of his drawings are preserved.
• Jean Fontaine, the creator of the largest collection, with more than 60 drawings.

Each drawing bears, in the lower left corner beneath a label that is no longer there, the name of the studio to which the student was assigned.

The collection is not limited to plans; it also includes an engraving based on a charcoal drawing by Michel Fréchon, “Rouen: Old Cour des Capucins.”

Two major steps lie ahead for this collection : the restoration of the plans and drawings, whose edges have become fragile, and their digitization, which will protect the originals from handling and make them more accessible to the public.

© Seine-Maritime Departmental Archives. Plan and elevation for the circus project by Alexandre Marcel. ADSM 5976 W

In late June, the collective of doctoral students and PhDs behind the fanzine “Labyrinthe” released its third issue. It may be the third issue, but it’s actually Issue No. 2—the mystery is only superficial: after a Issue No. 0 designed to get the ball rolling, the collective has settled into a steady rhythm and has been publishing one issue a year since 2023.

What is a fanzine ? A portmanteau of “fan” and “magazine,” it refers to a small-circulation publication created by enthusiasts. The enthusiasts in question are Antoine Apruzzese, Lucie Dehame, Alexis Desplats, Miléna Koutani, and Léna Tullifer.

This second issue focuses on the beautiful, the raw, and the living. Far from being rigid, these three terms serve as open frameworks—it’s up to each reader to interpret them as they wish. The fanzine is thus built around a variety of contributions: a review of the film *The Brutalist*, a remote discussion spanning two cities and two different countries on the observation of the sky, a linocut, photographs, an architectural project, and even a reflective stroll through the city…

On Thursday, October 1, the Documentary Center hosted the collective for the presentation of this issue. The authors presented their articles to the audience before discussing the publication’s production process: the call for submissions centered on the triad “beautiful / raw / alive,” followed by the selection of themes and the chosen texts. As the editorial explains, temporarily fixing these concepts in order to communicate inherently creates a tension: how can we name them without reducing them? How can we define them without confining them? These were among the questions that fueled the discussion with the audience.

If you were unable to attend the event, Le Pôle Documentaire is hosting a ten-day exhibition featuring every issue of the fanzine *Labyrinthe*.

Issue No. 2 of *Labyrinthe* is available for consultation in the reference section. A wonderful opportunity to lose yourself—with delight—in the labyrinth.

Previous issues are available in print at the resource center and online HERE

Stany Cambot is a filmmaker, architect, visual artist, and set designer who studied at theEnsa Normandie. In 2019, he directed the documentary – Blouma —and is now releasing— The Apocalypse Has Already Begun.

In his latest short film, Stany Cambot explores Russia and, more specifically, the phenomenon of Moscow’s “garajniki,” which he discovered in 2013. These were originally garages whose purpose was hijacked following the fall of the USSR. These are makeshift spaces where a parallel economy has flourished, with the unauthorized establishment of sewing workshops, carpentry shops, restaurants, pig farms, and more. The director observes this clandestine, alternative city characterized by mutual aid, social interactions, and a way of life preserved from the Soviet era.

You can watch the documentary on ArchiRès by signing up for the Tënk platform .

And for those who would like to see it on the big screen, the film will also be shown at the Omnia République Theater in Rouen on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

The reference section boasts some 60 subscriptions to journals covering architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, heritage, and materials. As the new academic year begins, we’d like to give you an overview of the latest issues that have been published.

🇪🇸 Arquitectura Viva – No. 286 (2026)

Presentation and analysis of projects by the elii firm (a Madrid-based studio founded by Carlos Palacios Rodríguez, Eva Gil Lopesino, and Uriel Fogué Herreros).

🇪🇸 El Croquis – No. 235 (2026)

An overview of the Majorcan firm Aulets and its projects completed between 2003 and 2026—Building with the Territory. The table of contents is organized into three sections: Earth, Stone, Wood.

🇪🇸 AV Proyectos – No. 135 (2026)

Title:  "Glass Skins (=Contemporary Glass – New Possibilities for Glass).

A presentation of 7 projects (Max Núñez, MVRDV, Snøhetta, etc.) in which blocks, slats, and undulating panels transform light and create complex atmospheres.

🇪🇸 AV Monografías – No. 285–286

Title: “ Vivienda nueva ” ( =New Housing).

A look at 20 Spanish multi-family housing projects that showcase innovative, sustainable, and socially responsible solutions.

🇺🇸 Architectural Record – No. 8 (August 2026)

Title: " Presidential Libraries" 

An Analysis of Two New Presidential Libraries (Chicago and North Dakota)

Other topics: School projects tailored to the needs of students with cognitive or medical challenges (e.g., a public school in Boston designed by Perkins&Will).

🇬🇧 The Architectural Review – No. 1533 (July/August 2026)

Title: "Industry" . 

Feature: The Impact of AI on Industrial Landscapes.

🇩🇪 DETAIL – No. 7/8 (July/August 2026)

Title: “Massivbau / Solid Construction ” 

Presentation of several international projects in Belgium, Spain, etc., illustrated with photographs and detailed plans on a 1:20 scale.

🇫🇷 Exé – No. 65 (2026)

Title: “Sports Facilities” – 4 projects presented

🇫🇷 D’architectures – No. 337 (2026)

An interview with Minister of Culture Catherine Pégard, a spotlight on the Zakarian-Navelet firm, and a feature on the exhibition “41 Fragments for Living: The Voices of Young Architects.”

🇫🇷 Urban Features – No. 160 (July/August 2026)

Title: “ Urban Planning with AI ” 

AI for Urban Planning: Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Urban Planning, with Case Studies and Expert Interviews.

Check out the highlights on the Instagram account poledocensa76

This course handbook presents the master’s seminar in the “Experimentation” field of study at theENSA Normandie , which introduces students to the methods of scientific research. Since 2023, students have written and defended more than sixty theses, each serving as an investigation into the ecological fabric of architecture.

Find the booklet in the publications kiosk and by clicking HERE

The Documentary Center will be closed from June 29 to September 4, 2026.

Reopening on September 7, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.

In *A Journey Through My Library*, Luca Merlini, an architect and professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, invites us on a poetic and personal exploration of his own library. This book is not merely a catalog of books, but a meditation on how books shape our lives, our thoughts, and even our spaces.

Through short, evocative stories, Merlini shares his encounters with authors, ideas, and emotions. He discusses classics of architecture and philosophy, as well as lesser-known works that have shaped his intellectual and professional journey.

💡 Why does this book resonate with us?

• A dialogue between architecture and literature: Merlini connects the physical space of books with the mental space they open up. His library becomes a model of his mind, a place where every book has its place and its story.
• It is also a reflection on transmission and intellectual heritage. How the books we read, give as gifts, or keep build bridges.
• Merlini encourages us to be curious and urges us to wander the aisles, letting chance guide our reading choices.

“A library is a living entity. It breathes, it grows, it evolves alongside us. It reflects our questions, our passions, but also our silences.”

Click HERE to learn more

And you, which book from your bookshelf deserves a "journey"?

The end of the year is approaching, and with it comes the summer loan period. What can I borrow? Books, magazines, and DVDs.

How many? The rule remains the same— 4 books + 2 magazines + 2 DVDs.

📅 Due by September 7, 2026 – plenty of time to make the most of your resources without rushing.

🕘 Please note: Starting June 15, the Documentary Center will switch to summer hours:

Monday: 2:00 PM–5:00 PM; Tuesday through Friday: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM / 2:00 PM–5:00 PM

Since its creation in 2009, the Perspectives Rurales network has drawn on the diverse scientific and educational activities of its members—ENSA Normandie —to link its discussions to issues related to the training of architects, landscape architects, urban planners, and agronomists. The various meetings have consistently given significant attention to the theoretical and reflective analysis of educational initiatives that are being implemented or that examine ways of “developing projects” in rural areas.

Download the 2024–2025 Activity Report HERE, and find all the information about the Perspectives Rurales network by clicking HERE

Arte.tv regularly posts new documentaries online. We’ve put together a selection of architecture-related titles for you.

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