The 1977 law on architecture is talked about within the profession. After the announcement by the National Council of the Order of Architects (Cnoa), in November 2024, to include rehabilitation in the legislative text and a petition launched by the Architecture Union on the same subject, it is up to turn of the National Union of French Architects' Unions (Unsfa) to express themselves.
In a press release relayed on a social network this Wednesday, November 27, the union affirms that the 1977 law on architecture “does not need to be changed, it just needs to be applied“. “Article 1 of this founding law already encompasses all components of architecture and in particular architectural heritage: rehabilitation is clearly included“, he wrote.
“Furthermore, article 4 of this law specifies that recourse to the architect is obligatory for work which modifies the external appearance of an existing construction. This particularly concerns energy rehabilitation and renovation projects. However, this obligation is not systematically required by public authorities.”
“Reaffirm the place of the architect”
The union recalls the urgency of adapting to the effects of climate change and rehabilitating built heritage. “It is crucial not to give in to easy talk without perspectives. Let us mobilize, collectively, to have our skills in rehabilitation recognized; we are trained and we continue to train in the face of these issues“, he recalls.
For Unsfa, the emergency is not “reaffirm“the place of rehabilitation in architecture but of”reaffirm the role of the architect in the implementation of this 'project of the century'“. “It is this line of action that Unsfa has defended every day and for a long time throughout the country.”
