“Although the work of Morris was later cut off from its revolutionary dimension, this idea of the living environment as unified field of creative activity nevertheless prompted a whole lineage of movements and schools. I’m thinking of the Bauhaus, the Vhutemas of Moscow, the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Ulm, of the Institut de l’Environnement in Paris, of the tragic destiny of these institutions. And I tell myself that the environment is uneven ground indeed and that it is not easy to venture forth on it.” {1}

This reflection made by Claude Schnaidt, summarizes what was happening in debates and educational institutions that attempted, during the 20th century, to create new conditions for teaching art, design and architecture. {2}

In France, in a framework of reform for architecture teaching in a pre-1968 context, Max Querrien, director of architecture, established a reform commission on which, amongst others, the sociologist Henri Lefebvre and Michel Rocard, architecture students such as Pierre Clément, Roland Castro and Antoine Grumbach had a seat. {3} This reflection gave birth to the Institut de l’Environnement, “having made the whole thing up” according to Florence Contenay, then a close collaborator of Max Querrien’s. The intellectual and scientific ambition referred to theories of the Bauhaus and the Ulm school (in 1968, the founding team went to the Ulm school which was in the middle of a revolution and threatened with closing). This institution attempted to invent new multidisciplinary teaching experiments, to train teachers for architecture schools and to create research conditions within an international network, beginning with the setting up of a documentary center.

According to the decision of the Ministre des affaires culturelles, André Malraux, who had always shown a strong interest in contemporary architecture and cultural heritage, the building of the Institut de l’Environnement was constructed in less that one year by Robert Joly and Jean Prouvé. Adjacent to ENSAD, rue d’Ulm, it opened its doors on November 17, 1969 at 14-20 rue Erasme, Paris (5^è). Consisting of 3000m² of available surface area, on five floors, it was conceived using industrial techniques for a steel frame, except for the ground floor, which was built using traditional techniques. Jean Prouvé’s industrialized panels were used for the building’s façade. {4}

Starting with the spring of 1971, the Institut de l’Environnement is called into question by the new government. {5} It is considered to be a luxury ; the idea is developed that theoretical research falls under the jurisdiction of the university and that the research done by practitioners is done in architecture schools. Having attracted young students and professionals who want to be free and to build venues for experimental teaching, it is plagued with internal political conflicts between the communist party and the left wing party. The Institute as a teaching venue is dissolved, whereas, a core of individuals who are dedicated to documentation and research remain, organizing exhibitions and colloquia which are accompanied by numerous publications. In 1975, the Institut de l’Environnement is moved to Nanterre, and becomes the IFA (Institut Français d’Architecture) in 1981.