Architect Christophe Hutin to represent France at the Venice Architecture Biennale

The selection committee chaired by professor and architect-urban planner Philippe Madec focused on the project led by Christophe Hutin, who has developed expertise in housing issues in South Africa, and specializes in sustainable architecture based on the economics of construction.

This architect and teacher-researcher at the National School of Architecture in Bordeaux, studied the townships in Soweto near Johannesburg.

His projects "highlight architecture as a social project and contribution to living together, favor an architecture of frugality, consider the profession of architect as that of a mediator allowing the experimentation, participation and co-construction of inhabitants to the projects (...) his work "widens the look on the international scene, in particular South Africa, Argentina, the United States and Vietnam", according to the press release.

The call for projects was entitled "How we will live together? How will we live together" and was launched by the French Institute, operator of the French Pavilion in Venice.

Lebanese architect Hashim Sarkis is the general commissioner of this 17th Biennale, which will start in May in Venice.