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Armelle

@armoulinex

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🛠Architect founder @actstudio.eu
🔥Activist fighting biopower & ecocide
@acannorge
🎨 @jamcollectiveoslo
📚 @oslozinefest

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We are happy to share that Collective Fabula and ACT! are beginning to research: How housing rehabilitation can become more multispecies-friendly through design and architecture approaches. 🐦🦇🐝🦎 Focusing on the context of Oslo.

Many vulnerable species have adapted and found refuge in urban environments, and human housing is often co-habited by other species that we barely notice. Housing rehabilitation practices can drastically affect these species and lead to habitat loss.

Within the Ecologies of Home project we aim to foster broader sensibility of multispecies ecology and regenerative urban futures, while exploring and developing specific multispecies-friendly rehabilitation experiments. 🏗️🏡🦇🐦

Big thanks to the bat expert Jeroen van der Kooij for interesting discussions and insights into bat life in Oslo. 🦇🌻

Photos: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 by Armelle Breuil
Photos: 2, 7 by Rūta Jumīte by @armoulinex

Byrådet er ikke så interesserte i å lytte til oss, men kanskje de er villige til å lytte til boligekspertene?

Armelle Breuil er arkitekt og grunnlegger av ACT!, et norsk-fransk studio som arbeider med sosialt og økologisk engasjert arkitektur, ombruk og naturlige materialer.

Dette sier hun om E37 og O14:
"Økologisk bærekraft skal være for alle. Enebakkveien 37 og Ormsundveien 14 viser at klimatilpasning, gjenbruk og fellesskap kan bygges nedenfra, med enkle midler og over tid. Vi trenger flere slike steder å eksperimentere med fremtidens boformer, helst ikke færre. Byrådet bør videreføre pilotprosjektene, ikke legge dem ned. I fremtiden blir Oslo kommune mer stolt av å ha hatt gode pilotprosjekter som disse, eller av å ha stengt den eneste unike muligheten til å eksperimentere i byen?" by @armoulinex

✨10 under 35✨ 
Arkitektur has listed us among “Norway’s top young architects 10 offices under 35». We’re proud to be part of such a great selection of peers.
We’re not sure «top» fits us, yet we agree about «challenging the established structures». Thanks to @arkitektur_no and the jury for highlighting young practices in these times, and for your kind words.

A perfect way to celebrate ACT!’ fifth year - say hello to our current team, Lalie Mari who joined us in June and Armelle Breuil.

Thanks to our previous team members that contributed to the shaping of ACT!: Rikke Winther who quickly joined and was our partner for two years, Lucien Millet our first intern - and our summer interns, now a yearly tradition: Domitille Reyess, Fania Villeneuve Saint-Charles, Malka Gadefait and Märta Carlsson 🍀

A big thanks to all the people that gave us their trust when our references were limited - by collaborating with us or by letting us be their architects ✨ by @armoulinex

[Bₑₜₜₑᵣ ₗₐₜₑ ₜₕₐₙ ₙₑᵥₑᵣ]

Excited to have received the printed @dimensions.journal Issue 09 »Changing Spatial Practices: Alliances, Activism and Networks« edited by @transcript_verlag
and to let you know that you can access all the articles online for 🅵🆁🅴🅴 ! (link in their bio)

So happy to have contributed to it – and thanks again to Léa Hobson (@lea.hobson), Tom Bennett and Nick Newman (@studiobark) for their time. Big big thanks to the editors Kadambari Baxi, Isabel Glogar, Gabu Heindl, Bernadette Krejs, Tatjana Schneider!
Thanks also to the photographers Natasa Leoni, Yanis Langeraert, Lauren Shevills and Keith Van Loen.

Hopefully it contributes to mapping out spatial activism and inspires more of our peers to be a bit more activists and take a stand 🪧 by @armoulinex

My article 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 is now printed in the new book 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗺, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀, edited by Kadambari Baxi, Isabel Glogar, Gabu Heindl, Bernadette Krejs, and Tatjana Schneider; among several great articles.

Tune in to the 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝟳𝗽𝗺 𝗖𝗘𝗧!

In the text, I explore a role many architects have stepped into in recent years: the architect–climate activist. With the polycrisis we live in the discipline is being pushed to rethink its responsibilities.

This research is close to my heart, as I navigate the challenge of carrying two hats since 2018: the architect willing to continue practicing with the built environment, and the activist fighting for a systemic change. I wanted to find peers to listen to their thoughts: How can architects use their voices in the climate crisis? How can our skills support climate justice movements? And how does activism reshape architectural practice? Is it realistic to have a professional practice and being an activist, and what are the challenges?

Through three interviews, I look at the work of Nick Newman, Tom Bennett, and Léa Hobson to trace how alliances, networks, and direct actions can expand what architecture can do, and whom it serves. I was curious to see the impact of their activism (XR, ACAN, Les Soulèvements de la Terre) on their practices (StudioBark, Léa Hobson Architecte).

The book is part of the 𝘋𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 (𝘐𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 08), published by @transcript_verlag Huge thanks to the editors for their patience ♥️

This is my first-ever peer-reviewed article 😳

📸 Nick Newman at the XR protest by Natasa Leoni, of Lea at the action Fin de Chantiers by Yanis Langeraert and of Tom’s action with ACAN by Lauren Shevills and Keith Van Loen. by @armoulinex

Only two more hours to visit @oslozinefest ✨
Come at @rom_for_kunst_og_arkitektur and @tenthausoslo to meet an exclusive selection of 25+ self publishers coming among other from Stavanger, Bergen, France, Italy, Denmark, the @atomo_fanzinotek , try to make your own zine at the DIY table

You can also buy our tote bag or patch, limited edition of 25!
Until 17:00 today ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Snaps from the fair, workshops and party last night 🪩🪩 by @armoulinex

Coming to a zine festival near you:
🚧 ***IKKE RIV*** (Do not demolish)
Byverksted zine #25, in collaboration with Armelle Breuil/ACAN Norge

A long time in the making, this zine probably wouldn’t exist at all without #Reparasjonsfestivalen with @soestra100 at #Nytorget in Stavanger, in June 2023. This zine is still in progress and it is an invitation to discuss, question, expand, work, preserve, organize, mobilize.

www.rivingskart.no

…

“Every minute in Europe a building is destroyed.

In Norway, it is every half an hour. Existing buildings are the new species under threat of extinction – once more because of profit-motivated ambitions.

The value of a building is in the current market mainly established by its price, which contains square meters, land, its location. For a developer the maximum profit can only be made by demolishing and building new: it is considered faster in every phase of the project, and not
necessarly more expensive. It means you can build more square meters that you can sell, with new standards, get green credits for it, it feeds the ego of the developer and the architect and free them from potential difficult constrains, derogation and difficult building permits.

The regulations are not made for taking risk with the existing, the system is not made to and it all follows a broader tendency to think that new is better than old.

Buildings codes, regulations, insurances, the pressure of time: everything favors new buildings and defacto the erasure of the existing ones.

Demolition comes with hidden costs, we, society are paying while only few make profits. By loosing our infrastructure we loose our history and our memories. Developers are reshaping entire neighborhood that locals have more and more issue to afford, forcing them to move out; meaning we loose social infrastructures.

[…]” by @armoulinex

Afterwork Thursday 21st of August!

Join us at Claus Riis’ gate 2 for a cozy house afterwork to welcome the two newest members of our collective: Maike Statz and Nicolas Vittori 🥳

Drop by anytime between 16:00 and 18:00, after that, who knows, the city has a lots going on: OAF program launch, Bababar’s 2nd yo, XR People’s Assembly (with Palestinakomiteen + Greta Thunberg)

We planned this a while back (just a bit late to post 😅), so come hang, and feel free to text us if we’ve moved on and you want to catch up!

See you next week!!
Armelle, Nicolas, Maike & Marie by @armoulinex

Happy pride month 🌈

It was a pleasure to write in 2023 about LGBTQI+ history for Polygone, in their edition «Amour» (Love). Thank you for the support, and your very nice hand letter.
Yet, I was sad to no manage to reach my primary goal of focusing on lesbian and bisexual domestic places in Europe, and rather have a broader focus. Too little sources unfortunately, and too little time…
The few historical one I found in recent history were amazing and showing that women have smartly blurred the boundaries between friendship and love to the outside, avoiding judgements and punishment - but leaving little traces of their romantic lives.

Seeing the raise of far right everywhere, I’m scared. We shouldn’t forget that the depenalization of homosexuality is fairly recent, that same rights are not yet there and all of this can be gone tomorrow.
Let’s be aware and continue the fight!

Image 1: From HBO’s «Gentleman Jack», Suranne Jones as Anne Lister, and Sophie Rundle as Ann Walker.
Image 2: Boisson after C. Delort, Miss Hobart and Miss
Temple. From Anthony Hamilton, Memoirs of the Count de
Grammont, Henry Vizetelly, ed. (London: Vizetelly, 1889); from the article The Literature and Culture of the Closet in the Eighteenth Century
by Danielle Bobker
Image 3: Frida Kahlo and Chavela Vargas in 1950. Photographed by Tina Modotti.

Pictures of the magazine from @editions.polygone press kit ©

🏳️‍🌈🩷💜💙 🌈 🩷💛💙🏳️‍⚧️ by @armoulinex

Learning from Venice 🎹 🎹

The invitation from the amazing The Architecture Lobby @arch_lobby_official for us at ACAN to be part of an interview for their contribution to the Arsenale and meet in person at the pre-opening of the Venice Biennale was irresistible. Thanks among others to Jasmine and the ACAN NL launch where they met Peggy Deamer that interviewed us ✨

After two years as the international coordinator of ACAN, it was moving to meet IRL with people from chapters I helped launch. We even organised a small happening in the Biennale, among others in front of the House Europe @houseeurope.eu intervention—of which ACAN is a proud ambassador. (Go sign the petition!)

What followed were unforgettable encounters, parties like there was no tomorrow, inspiring pavilions and projects; and a wave of anxiety at witnessing a possible bro-tech AI future not questioning raising carbo-fascism. An accelerationist vision, a jump in tech, a suffocating accumulation: the very opposite of the worlds we activists are trying to build. Yet, happy to see opposite messages in the Venice’ streets.

And that’s my biggest learning from Venice and Venezians thanks to beautiful minds I met: Slow down.
What time are we trying to save with AI and tech? What will we do with it? How much do you truly enjoy doing something if you already think about the next thing to do?
 Life is too beautiful to rush through. Its movement deserves to be felt, deeply; its rhythm, danced to; its complexity, embraced. Take those extra seconds to watch a bird walk on the pavement, to sit on a bench for a siesta, to feel the wind on your skin, to swim far away, to walk instead of biking and sit down spontaneously with a friend met on the way home.

Thank you, Venezia, for opening my eyes, let’s see if I manage to practice it..

Addio 👋

Grazie @il5e for the 📸
@acannorge @acan.netherlands @architectscan by @armoulinex

Architecture is still for a privileged few — and too many young people grow up without knowing it’s even an option. That needs to change - could meditating architecture be a start?

In the latest issue of FORM, I share a personal reflection on formidling av arkitektur — how we can open up the field to kids and youth through workshops, play, and imagination. The past few years have been filled with mediating architecture through workshops with ACT!, @jamcollectiveoslo , and @rom_for_kunst_og_arkitektur.

My interest in working with younger generations grew from the Safe Space project, where we saw how inaccessible the field can be for many — and how crucial it is to open the door early. When I visit schools and ask how many students know what an architect does, I’m often surprised by how many confuse it with archaeologist 👀

Architecture is a tool to dream, to shape our spaces, to build stories — and it should belong to everyone.

From Steg for Steg, developed with JAM and produced by ROM UNG, to Bygg Fremtiden, developed with ACT! and produced through @dksnorge , we use architecture to dream, build, and rethink how we live — especially in the face of today’s climate and ecological crisis.
Bygg Fremtiden brings together many of the values we believe in: architecture as a tool for adaptation, creativity, and transformation — because unfortunately, adaptation is no longer optional.

Architecture belongs to everyone. Let’s make it accessible.

Thanks @kunstogdesigniskolen for the opportunity to reflect on the topic, among other great people part of that issue 🙏🏼

If you have a project idea involving youth and don’t know where to start — or you’re looking for collaborators — feel free to reach out!

📰 Read it in issue 4/2024 of FORM: Formidling
📸 Photos in FORM by @mariepyyyn / @armoulinex by @armoulinex

✨ Snap of our talk and workshop on constructive disobedience during the course “Naturlige sammensetninger.” 🌍

In October I shared insights on rethinking architecture amidst the climate crisis and how to drive change when the system isn’t yet equipped to support it at the Norwegian Association of Architects.

I started with my own journey—questioning the values of traditional architectural practice and its environmental impact. What do you do when you understand your profession contributes more to the problem than the solution? For me, it led to activism, from confronting the concrete industry in France to promoting sustainable alternatives. Did you that sand consumption for concrete threatens entire islands? Activism taught me the power of collective action.

Moving from global activism to activism in the building industry, in Norway, I co-founded the local branch of the Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN) to push for systemic change. Architecture is political. ACAN is growing globally, so if you’re curious, check out our international network or message me!

I also spoke about taking risks to innovate—acting as architect, contractor, or builder to overcome barriers and create change.

The workshop drew from our school project Bygg Fremtiden, which inspires young minds to see architecture as a tool for adaptation and innovation. Using these boards, and based on the Theory of Change I learned in activism, I facilitated a session on how to take the first steps toward change. While it’s easy to feel that others’ achievements are out of reach, my message was simple: start where you can, build on your experience, and collaborate with those who complement your skills. Budgets are challenging but must be transparent to empower clients to make informed decisions.

Architects can—and must—be drivers of change. Whether through activism, reuse, natural materials, it starts with us. If not now, when? If not us, who? 💪

Thanks Andrea Pinochet and @arkitektforbundet for the invitation, to all the participants. I hope it gave some ideas of where to start to ACT!

Pictures from XR, 🐊 , @emmanuelle_dechelette_

#NAL #ArchitecturalActivism by @armoulinex