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>Archilab 2000 Jean-Pierre
Sueur To present the most innovative researches as regards architecture, such is the purpose of ArchiLab, an event organized by the City of Orléans together with the Funds of Contemporary Art in the Région Centre. The goal was reached in 1999 when it took place for the first time. It presented in a resolutely pluralistic approach the projects of thirty teams of architects coming from about ten countries and representing the rising generation with people in their 30's and 40's. The latter have found in ArchiLab an unprecedented opportunity to debate together and to question today's architecture. Meeting with the public was another goal which was reached. 14000 visitors attended this event. ArchiLab 1999 also got a large coverage both at the national and international levels. Encouraged by the success, the city of Orléans is renewing this initiative in a somewhat different format. ArchiLab 2000 will show once again the vitality of contemporary architecture in all its creative diversity. From May 2nd to June 25th 2000 thirty new teams of architects, coming from all over the world and chosen by Frédéric Migayrou and Marie-Ange Brayer, will present their projects. Beyond this collective exhibition, ArchiLab will also serve as a melting pot for ideas and projects increasingly widening to the questions of Urbanity. Through a vast public debate entitled UrbaLab, the theme of today's and tomorrow's City will be dealt with, in the presence of various architects. Through ArchiLab, the City of Orléans means to put forward this issue to a larger public in order to lead them to realize how importantly contemporary architecture and urbanism contribute to structuring tomorrow's city. Moreover I am very happy to notice that several of our city's cultural institutions have joined in this event : as well as the Fund of Contemporary Arts in the Région Centre, I wish to thank the Institute of Visual Arts, the Multimedia Library, Orléans Museum of Fine Arts and the Astrolabe. This will give the opportunity to bring together various subjects around the architecture theme, may it be music, visual arts, cinema or literature. I am delighted that the City of Orléans has managed to develop a solid partnership with the Région Centre Council regarding ArchiLab, and to have a very active support from the Ministry of Culture and Communication for this important event. I am keen to thank them all very warmly as well as all those who are working on ArchiLab 2000, especially the architects who, through their researches and questioning, prepare and invent the future of our cities.
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