Housing bill: the relaxation of the role of the Architects of the Buildings of France (ABF) reignites tensions over heritage protection

Accelerating housing production without damaging architectural heritage: the balance sought by the government is sparking heated debate. The draft law aimed at revitalizing and decentralizing housing, expected in the National Assembly after its first reading adoption by the Senate, notably includes provisions to relax the scope of certain opinions issued by the Architects of the Buildings of France (ABF).

These officials can currently oppose projects when they believe they harm the heritage or aesthetics of historical sites. According to a Senate report published in 2024, nearly a third of housing projects in France are subject to their review.

An advisory opinion within the boundaries of housing development

Article 2 of the draft law provides for the creation of "housing development zones," within which a special regime is intended to facilitate construction. For certain projects located in these zones, the opinion of the Architects of the Buildings of France (ABF) would become "simple," and therefore advisory, instead of being "binding" and binding on the authority responsible for issuing the permit.

This development is worrying several members of parliament and heritage advocates. Interviewed by AFP, Communist senator Pierre Ouzoulias denounced it as "a disaster" and feared a challenge to existing protections.

According to Pierre Ouzoulias, a member of the Senate's culture committee: "That's what France did in the 70s and we're now realizing it's a disaster. We're demolishing all these buildings (...) because they were built quickly, without any standards, because housing had to be provided at all costs."

Socialist Senator Marie-Pierre Monier also emphasizes the economic and cultural importance of this heritage: "France is known for the richness of its heritage, (...) we also have many visitors, tourists who come for that every year."

The risk of a "concrete jungle and soulless" France denounced

The controversy has spread beyond the Senate. In an opinion piece published in early July in Le FigaroAround twenty prominent figures, including journalist Stéphane Bern and former minister Jean-Michel Blanquer, are warning about a project that, according to them, could promote a "concrete jungle and soulless" France and "destroy the beauty" of the country.

For those opposed to the text, the urgency to build more should not lead to reproducing certain urban operations of the 1970s, now criticized for their poor architectural quality and insufficient integration into their environment.

Sunscreens at the heart of the debate

Another provision of the bill concerns the installation of solar shading on windows. In this case as well, the opinion of the Architects of the Buildings of France (ABF) would become advisory in order to simplify the process for occupants wishing to protect their homes against extreme heat.

The Minister for Urban Affairs and Housing, Vincent Jeanbrun, defends this relaxation in the name of the housing crisis and the climate adaptation of the building stock.

According to Vincent Jeanbrun, Minister of Urban Affairs and Housing: "France cannot become an open-air museum where we admire facades behind which no one can find shelter or protection from the heat."

He adds: "Can we seriously accept that in 2026, families will still be refused the installation of shutters because a favorable opinion prohibits it?"

Jacques Baudrier, deputy mayor in charge of housing at the Paris City Hall, shares this position. In a message published on LinkedIn, he believes that "in view of the climate emergency it would be legitimate" for the opinion of the ABF "to no longer be suspensive and only advisory", particularly for "the installation of blackout blinds".

The ABF contest the "sham trial" regarding the shutters

Fabien Sénéchal, president of the National Association of Architects of French Buildings (ANABF), denounces what he calls a sham trial. According to him, the ABF (Architects of French Buildings) fight "daily to have the solar protection systems restored."

The disagreement seems to concern less the principle of the protective measures themselves than their architectural quality and the materials used. "The issue is the PVC roller shutter boxes," which are often rejected "for aesthetic reasons" and because this level of protection is "incomparable to that of a wooden shutter," explains Fabien Sénéchal. The ANABF sent a letter to the Minister of Housing at the end of June.

The Senate report published in 2024 sheds light on the decisions made by the Architects of the Buildings of France (ABF): approximately 14% of the opinions were refusals and 36% were approvals. The remaining half were approvals with conditions attached, requiring the applicant to modify their project.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.