The postgraduate programme accompanies architects and engineers in this exploration through an interdisciplinary curriculum that bridges engineering sciences, life and earth sciences, environmental humanities, and architectural history and theory. It builds on a long-standing partnership with the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (ENPC) and collaborations with renowned institutions such as the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), the Sustainable Environmental Design (SED) master’s programme at the Architectural Association (AA) in London, and the Chair of Sustainable Construction at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ). This network provides a unique framework for developing the scientific culture, technical knowledge and critical thinking necessary to integrate ecological considerations into architectural design and research.

Launched in 2013 by Jean-François Blassel under the name Post-Carbon Architecture, this programme builds on over a decade of experience and has gained international recognition. It prepares students for a critical and engaged practice in architectural studios, design offices, engineering firms, public institutions, local authorities and associations. Rooted in academic research, it also provides solid preparation for doctoral research on environmental issues in architecture.

Programme’s Structure

After a first month dedicated to building a common foundation of fundamental knowledge, the programme consists of two semesters of teaching (October to February, then March to May), followed by a four-month work experience (June to September).

The Month of September
During these two semesters, a multidisciplinary teaching team of renowned practitioners and researchers imparts knowledge and engages in discussions with students around five main teaching themes:

Building With Earth (ENPC)

Coordinated by Xavier Chateau and Emmanuel Keita, this week-long workshop offers an introduction to the issues, methods and tools involved in the design and construction of an earth-based structure through a series of lectures and a practical exercise. In collaboration with students from the ENPC's Civil Engineering and Construction (GCC) programme, ALP students will carry out a project that will allow them to explore different construction techniques before building a full-scale structure.

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Environmental Design: An Introductory Investigation

Coordinated by Florencia Collo, in collaboration with her associates from Atmos Lab (Rafael Alonso Candau and Olivier Dambron), this workshop takes place over two weeks. Working in groups, students conduct an in-depth investigation of a building's energy system and its changing climate over the seasons. They learn the methods and tools needed for bioclimatic analysis and design, and experiment with different forms of representation to illustrate energy flows and the hygrothermal behaviour of an architecture depending on weather conditions and social practices.

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A series of half-day introductory sessions to digital tools will also be organised in September. These will focus on the Geographic Information System (GIS) and tools for climate analysis and energy modelling using Grasshopper and the Ladybug toolkit.

Weekly Seminars
During these two semesters, a multidisciplinary teaching team of renowned practitioners and researchers imparts knowledge and engages in discussions with students around five main teaching themes:

Thermodynamics of Buildings

This course, coordinated by Jean Souviron, architect, engineer and PhD in architecture, is designed to provide, during the first semester, an in-depth understanding of the fundamental knowledge required for a good understanding of the laws and principles of heat transfer, thermodynamics and energy conversion. It combines different scales of analysis, from the behaviour of construction materials to that of buildings and the socio-economic structures in which they are embedded. It adopts a life-cycle approach to study the forms of energy and the ways in which they are used in the main industrial processes that supply the building sector. The course will be punctuated by a series of presentations from French and international researchers and practitioners, providing a broad perspective on the opportunities offered by a good understanding of the thermodynamics of buildings in architectural practice and research.

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Knowledge and Practices of Repair

Coordinated by Pierre Dufour, Chief Architect for Historic Monuments and founder of Antoine Dufour Architectes, this two-semester course provides an in-depth understanding of the knowledge required to work on existing buildings. It focuses in particular on climatic and hygrothermal issues through a series of theoretical lectures, site visits and practical exercises. Students develop the skills needed to assess existing buildings and use equipment to measure the energy performance of architectural elements. They will deepen their knowledge of repair, renovation and transformation techniques, taking into account the sustainability of the solutions considered, their energy performance and their impact on thermal comfort. Presentations by architects, engineers and craftsmen will enrich the programme by providing opportunities for discussion of case studies that are emblematic of the contemporary challenges of working with existing structures.

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Territorial Ecology and Production Chains

This first-semester course is coordinated by Camille de Gaulmyn, architect, engineer and founder of degré·. It aims to develop the knowledge and skills needed to analyse the ecological footprint of buildings. It does so by adopting an interdisciplinary, analytical and quantitative approach to the study of the metabolism of buildings at the urban, territorial and global scale. It provides a complex understanding of the ecological issues related to the construction industry and its sectors, and opens up a critical perspective on the structure of interactions between architecture, territories, their governance systems and the biosphere. The aim is to situate architecture within a territorial ecology defined by a network of actors mobilising material and energy flows. The course is based on an analysis of the trajectories of the main building materials, from the places where they are extracted to the places where they accumulate. It also helps students to familiarise themselves with the tools and methods used to understand and quantify material and energy flows, in addition to the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) course taken at ENPC.

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Architecture and its Ecosystems

Coordinated by Brian Padilla, ecologist at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) and member of the Environmental Authority of Île-de-France, this course aims to develop, over the course of the second semester, a foundation of basic knowledge for understanding contemporary issues relating to ecosystems and their transformation as a result of the construction of buildings and their infrastructure.

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Ecology, Economics and Politics

This second-semester course is coordinated by Antoine Perron, architect and PhD in architecture. Taking the form of a weekly seminar, it explores the complex dynamics between economics and politics that shape societal responses to contemporary environmental issues. By examining the interactions between actors, institutions and ideological frameworks, the course aims to shed light on the socio-political and economic conditions that underpin collective and individual choices in the face of current and future ecological upheavals. The sessions, structured in the form of masterclasses, bring together researchers from a variety of disciplines including political science, ecological economics, political ecology, anthropology and environmental history. This diversity of approaches makes it possible to cross-fertilise perspectives and fuel debates. Encouraging critical and collaborative reflection, this course aims to provide students with the analytical tools they need to grasp the economic and political dimensions of environmental issues and their consequences for architectural practice.

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The long-standing partnership with ENPC enables students to take two complementary courses:

Life Cycle Assessment

This weekly course in the first semester is coordinated by Adélaide Feraille and Charlotte Roux at ENPC. Students join the Civil Engineering and Construction (GCC) programme to develop skills in life cycle assessment (LCA) of materials, buildings and infrastructure. This methodology allows the ecological impact of different project scenarios to be assessed using a multi-criteria and comparative approach, which is useful for decision-making. It is increasingly being used in the construction sector, in line with changing regulatory requirements and the growing interest of developers and civil society in environmental issues. This module therefore provides the elements necessary to master the basic principles of LCA methods and calculations, so that you can carry out a study and analyse existing studies under the guidance of an experienced project manager.

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Territorial and Urban Metabolism

Every Monday of the second semester, ALP students, together with students from the VET (Ville, environnement, transport) department and the Amur postgraduate programme in urban planning and project management, take part at the ENPC in this course dedicated to analysing the metabolism of our societies. The aim is to enable students to understand the flows generated by the development and operation of cities and regions, the ways in which these flows can be managed (regulatory frameworks, standards, technical resources) and the means available for taking action (techniques, actors, etc.). The programme addresses issues related to food metabolism and agriculture, the management of organic household waste and wastewater, and the flow of construction materials.

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Finally, in the first semester, students can choose between two courses in history and environmental humanities:

Architecture and the Environment in the 20th Century

Over the course of the twentieth century, architecture has become one of the main ways in which human societies have transformed the environment. It has contributed to the urbanisation of the world, the industrialisation of production and the general anthropisation of nature. Coordinated by Paul Bouet, a professor at the ENSA Paris-Est, this course examines these transformations by reconsidering the history of the construction of buildings and cities through the prism of their relationship with materials, energy, the climate and living organisms. It analyses both the material and symbolic interactions between architecture and the environment, in close dialogue with science and technology. The course focuses on particularly significant moments in these interactions, successively moving back and forth between local experiences and global phenomena. It combines a re-examination of the work of canonical architects, engineers, town planners, landscape architects and theorists with a reappraisal of figures who have remained on the fringes of historiography, while examining the fundamental transformations affecting our relationship with the environment through architecture.

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Environmental Humanities : An Introduction

Every Wednesday, ALP students meet those from the EHESS in the auditorium of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN). Coordinated by Wolf Feuerhahn, Élise Demeulenaere and Luc Semal, researchers at the CNRS and the MNHN, this seminar aims to provide a general introduction to the work of the human and social sciences on the environment and to offer an overview of the questions raised by research into the relationship between 'nature' and society. To this end, this module includes a session on the main categories used by the humanities and social sciences to designate the object under discussion (environment, nature, milieu, etc.). The other sessions are devoted to different disciplinary approaches to the environment: history, anthropology, political science, geography, philosophy, economics and sociology. Each of these disciplines has developed, usually at the margins, a field of research specialising in the study of the interfaces between societies and their environment. This disciplinary division is justified by the fact that the unification of these fields within what is emerging under the name of 'environmental humanities' is far from complete. Since the aim of this seminar is to provide students with a general knowledge of the environmental humanities (intellectual history, major authors, scholarly controversies), the course will be accompanied by bibliographical lists and students will be encouraged to read a number of texts.

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Architectural projects

In parallel, students collaborate on a group project based on real commissions from public institutions, research organizations, or private companies. These projects address real situations, allowing students to contextualize the teachings of the programme. Combining research and design, they focus on the transformation, renovation, and repair of the building stock. These architectural projects are structured around two main themes:

• Regenerative architecture, which explores architectural forms whose material regimes help strengthen the connection between the built environment and sustainable agricultural and forestry practices;
• The architecture of energy bifurcations, which examines the impact of climate change and decarbonisation policies on buildings, energy infrastructures, and ways of living.

Regular visits to the project sites enable an in-depth investigation, which forms the basis for a proposal to address the issues raised by local stakeholders and institutions. The final output consists of a report, models and an oral presentation.

Tuesday’s seminar

Every Tuesday, a seminar provides a space for discussion based on common readings that support in-depth training in environmental research within architecture. Students undertake original research, culminating in an academic paper. Those interested in pursuing a PhD receive dedicated support throughout the year, helping them define a research topic, identify funding opportunities, and establish necessary connections with laboratories and institutions likely to host their project. The strong links between the postgraduate programme and research laboratories at the Ensa Paris-Est (OCS), ENPC (Navier and LATTS), ETH Zurich, and Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) offer future doctoral candidates privileged access to a network of researchers highly engaged in environmental research.

Thematic weeks

Finally, five thematic weeks are organised throughout the year, offering opportunities to bring together the Ensa Paris-Est community and an external audience. With a panel of French and international guests, these weeks explore five themes central to the programme:

Regenerative Materials

Coordinated by BC architects, materials & studies (Brussels), with Guillaume Habert (ETH Zurich) and Alia Bengana (EPFL, HEIA), this week is structured around masterclasses organised at ENSA Paris-Est and a four-day workshop in Brussels. It offers students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of bio- and geo-based materials through a series of workshops, visits and debates on the ecological issues involved in transforming the material regimes of architecture.

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Representing Architecture and its Ecosystems

Coordinated by Claire Vernhes (Ensa Paris-Est, MEAT architectures et territoires) and Nzinga Mboup (Worofila), this thematic week aims to explore ways of representing the complex interweaving of materials, energy and species that characterise ecosystems and their dynamics, over the seasons, in anthropised contexts.

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Agriculture, Forestry and Architecture

During this thematic week, coordinated by Camille de Gaulmyn (degré·), the students will deepen their understanding of the societal issues surrounding the use of bio-based materials. Through a series of visits to land used for growing construction materials, they will examine the forms of interaction between architecture and the agricultural and forestry sectors. The aim is to understand how these forms of exploitation impact on the ecosystems and communities involved in the development of these materials, and to define the conditions under which such a material regime can be considered sustainable.

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Architecture, Ecology and Politics

Coordinated by Brian Padilla (MNHN, Île-de-France Environmental Authority), this thematic week focuses on the political issues surrounding the implementation of an ecological transition in the construction sector. The aim is to examine the role of public policy in changing the way we build and live, and to gain a better understanding of the organisation of public agencies (OFB, Anses, Ademe, Environmental Authorities, etc.) responsible for protecting the environment and health. More broadly, the conferences and visits organised during the week provide an opportunity for debate on the political dimension of architecture, addressing the constraints and opportunities that those involved in the discipline have within civil society to take an active role in the face of ecological upheaval.

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Architecture of Energy Bifurcations

Coordinated by Jean Souviron (Ensa Paris-Est), this thematic week aims to deepen understanding of the issues involved in abandoning the use of fossil fuels. Organised around visits and masterclasses, it will provide an opportunity to address the full complexity of the technical, environmental, social, economic and political issues surrounding the decarbonisation of energy infrastructures.

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At the end of the two semesters, students undertake a four-month work experience. They benefit from the programme’s network of contacts to work in architecture agencies, design offices, engineering firms, public institutions, associations, and research laboratories in France and abroad.

Postgraduate programme led by Jean Souviron, architect, civil engineer and PhD in architecture and urban planning,
with: Alia Bengana (EPF Lausanne, HEIA Fribourg), Paul Bouet (Ensa Paris-Est), Laurens Bekemans, Yohann Hubert et Jasper Van Der Linden (BC architects & studies & materials, Bruxelles), Rafael Alonso Candau, Florencia Collo et Olivier Dambron (Atmos Lab, Londres), Camille de Gaulmyn (degré, Paris), Pierre Dufour (Antoine Dufour arch., Paris), Guillaume Habert (ETH Zurich), Emmanuel Keita (ENPC), Sébastien Marot (Ensa Paris-Est, EPFL), Nzinga B. Mboup (Worofila, Dakar), Brian Padilla (MNHN), Antoine Perron (Ensa Paris-Belleville), Emmanuelle Raoul-Duval (ROOM, Paris), Claire Vernhes (Ensa Paris-Est, MEAT architectures et territoires), etc.

Language
Postgraduate courses are taught in English or French. A minimum level of B2 is required in both languages. In French, this corresponds to a minimum score of between 400 and 499 points on the TCF language level test. In English, this corresponds to a TOEIC score of between 785 and 944 points.

Registration fees
1800 euros. The programme is eligible for a social subsidy (application to Crous de Créteil). For employees, the programme is approved by funding organisations such as Pôle emploi and OPCO.

Admission
The postgraduate programme is open to French and international architects and engineers holding a graduate degree. Candidates are selected between May and July based on a letter of application, CV, portfolio, and interview. The programme welcomes both initial and continuing professional training.
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