Valode & Pistre

RULES

ARTICLE 1 – PURPOSE OF THE CONTEST

The environmental issues that must guide construction lead us to prioritize the preservation of existing structures and their transformation, whenever possible.

This obviously does not mean freezing existing buildings in their current state. They must be renovated, their uses adapted to new practices, and their performance optimized, particularly in terms of thermal and energy efficiency.

For example, maintenance and renovation activity has already exceeded new construction activity in France for several years, and the gap is widening. Total construction activity has been declining in France for three years, as has new construction. However, maintenance and renovation activity has been increasing every year. It is therefore becoming essential for all project managers.

This requires a unique approach on the part of architects, distinct from the process of creating a new object on a vacant lot. It calls for a particular kind of creativity to understand a building, sense its strengths and limitations, and develop architectural and programmatic strategies.

We therefore wanted to focus this new edition of ArchiJeunes on the theme of Transformation. Four representative locations will be detailed during the competition phase, and candidates will be asked to give them a new use and quality.

In addition, we wanted to encourage collaboration between architects, which we have always favored over the work of an isolated individual. We believe that shared design amplifies creativity. Therefore, we ask candidates to participate in teams of two to four architects.

By organizing this award, the Valode & Pistre agency wishes to give a voice to architecture students who are nearing the end of their studies or have recently graduated, and who wish to contribute to the discussions that inspire us. We are convinced that this new generation of architects can provide a creative and innovative vision on these subjects. It will also be an opportunity for them to make themselves known and enter the professional world by finding ways to deepen their own thinking.

The projects will be selected by a jury composed of architects and prominent figures chosen for their interest and expertise in relation to the issues raised.

Since its creation, Valode et Pistre has favored renovation over demolition. This was the case for the CAPC in Bordeaux in the Entrepôt Lainé, the DRAC in Lyon in the Grenier d'Abondance, Bercy Village in the former wine cellars of Paris, the restructuring of the Initiale and Opus 12 towers, and the Grande Arche in Paris La Défense. Whether heritage buildings or more mundane constructions, old or modern buildings, the same approach has guided this desire to make the most of what is already in place.

ARTICLE 2 – ORGANIZATION OF THE CONTEST

Registration is done online at: www.archijeunes.fr
Projects must also be submitted at: www.archijeunes.fr
Candidates must comply with the submission criteria as set out below in the rules (Article 4).
Projects that do not meet these criteria will be disqualified.


SCHEDULE Online registration: Monday, February 2, 2026, to Wednesday, April 1, 2026, on the archijeunes.fr website via the " PARTICIPATE " tab
Registration confirmation: Thursday, April 2, 2026
Specifications sent and competition begins: Friday, April 3, 2026
Project submission deadline: Friday, July 10, 2026
Notification of the 12 selected teams: Friday, September 11, 2026
Jury meeting, oral presentations, awards ceremony, and announcement of winners: during the second half of September 2026

ARTICLE 3 – CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

The competition is open to students in their final year of architecture school, as well as young architects who graduated in 2025. They must provide proof of current or past enrollment in an architecture school in the following countries:

  • 27 member countries of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden.
  • Norway
  • United Kingdom
  • Switzerland

The following are therefore eligible to apply:

For France

  • Students who have successfully completed the Master 2 (5th year) in 2025 at an architecture school, based on the date of the state diploma;
  • Students who are currently enrolled in an architecture school for a Master's degree (5th year), with proof of enrollment;

For other European countries

  • Students who have successfully completed the Master's degree (5th year) in 2025, based on the date of graduation;
  • Students who are currently enrolled in an architecture school for a Master's degree (in their fifth year), with proof of enrollment;

Participation in the competition must be in teams of between 2 and 4 people. Each team member must meet the above criteria.
Participation by the same candidate in multiple projects will automatically result in collective disqualification.

Participation in the contest is free of charge.

The language of the competition is French or English.

ARTICLE 4 – ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, REGISTRATION, AND EXPECTED RENDERING ELEMENTS

THE PROJECT

Four existing locations in France will be proposed to the competing teams. Information (plans, cross-sections, etc.) will be provided at the time of the competition, after the applications have been validated.
Competitors will be asked to choose one building from among these four and develop an architectural concept. The teams will be free to choose the program to be developed in the selected building.

REGISTRATION: Monday, February 2, 2026, to Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Registration will take place on the website www.archijeunes.fr

An online form must be completed and the following administrative documents must be submitted online in PDF or JPG format:
For each participant, a certificate of enrollment from the school of architecture and the diploma verifying compliance with the conditions of Article 3.
These two documents are essential for each participant in this competition.

THE RESULT:

The submission must be made exclusively in digital format, in a single submission, and should include:

  • An A0 sheet in portrait orientation (height: 1189 mm × width: 841 mm) in PDF format (maximum 100 MB), freely laid out, containing all elements necessary to fully understand the project and the proposed architectural transformation, including, in particular: plans, sections, elevations, perspective views, diagrams, etc.
  • An explanatory note in A4 format (maximum 3 pages) in PDF, illustrating how the architectural project addresses the challenges outlined above 

All documents relating to the competition will be available for download at www.archijeunes.fr after registration.

ARTICLE 5 – JURY AND RESULTS

The jury is composed of architects and other relevant figures.
Its composition will be available on the website www.archijeunes.com.
Its role will be to select 12 nominated projects (3 for each of the 4 proposed sites), then to award 8 winners (2 for each of the 4 proposed sites).

The jury will base its decision on the following selection criteria:
- The originality and creativity of the project presented
- The qualities and relevance of the project presented in relation to the challenges of transformation
- The qualities of the project presented in relation to major environmental issues
- The credibility of the project presented in terms of its potential to become a reality
- The quality and clarity of the documents presented (visual and written)

The jury's decision is final and is reached by majority vote after deliberation. If necessary, the jury chairperson has a casting vote.

The jury will meet during the second half of September 2026.
The 12 selected candidates will present their projects via videoconference.
Candidates who do not attend the meeting will be automatically eliminated.
Candidates who are not nominated will be notified by email.

ARTICLE 6 – PRICES

The awards ceremony will take place after the jury has made its decision, in the presence of all jury members.
The winning projects will be exhibited at the agency and presented to the press.

Eight prizes will be awarded, one for each of the four proposed sites:
First prize: a grant of €5,000 (euros) to be shared among the team members.
Second prize: a grant of €3,000 (euros) to be shared among the team members.

The winners' projects will be exhibited for a period of two months at the Valode & Pistre agency and will be visible on the agency's website.
Extensive publicity will also be organized to showcase the winners (media, social networks, etc.).

ARTICLE 7 – PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA

In accordance with French law 78-17 of January 6, 1978, relating to information technology, files, and civil liberties, candidates are informed that the personal data collected during this competition is necessary to validate their participation. In accordance with the law, participants have the right to access, correct, and withdraw their personal data from the organizer.

ARTICLE 8 – GENERAL PROVISIONS

In the event of ambiguity or disputes, the interpretations of the jury president regarding these rules, the subject matter, and the specifications shall be authoritative.

Participation in the contest implies irrevocable and unconditional acceptance of the terms and conditions of these rules.

ARTICLE 9 – THE ORGANIZERS

Valode & Pistre is now one of France's leading architecture and urban planning firms.
Founded in 1980 by Denis Valode and Jean Pistre, it is now run by nine partners. It has nearly 150 architects of twenty different nationalities and has completed 200 projects around the world.

Based in Paris with a subsidiary in Beijing, Valode & Pistre develops projects in France and internationally: Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa.

Valode & Pistre's practice covers a wide range of scales, from the design of master plans for new towns to the design of furniture. It also covers a wide variety of programs, with particular expertise in the field of large public facilities, towers, tertiary campuses, mixed-use residential neighborhoods, shops, and hotels.

In all areas of intervention, architects strive to transfer contributions and innovations from one field to another, and above all to offer fresh and original insights that go beyond the project itself. To do this, the agency draws on a wide range of questions, including sociological, scientific, ecological, ethical, aesthetic, and cultural issues. This desire to be "at the crossroads of everything" fuels an intellectual exercise that is the very embodiment of the creative process. "What interests us is creating buildings that could not have been built anywhere else. The architectural gesture then has meaning and roots."

Its international experience provides an opportunity to master the most modern design tools and the highest levels of certification related to sustainable development. Beyond standards, the agency conducts R&D work on certain projects. Valode & Pistre has already been approved as a company conducting research and development work by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.