The du Besset & Lyon Agency, which was founded in Paris in 1987, has constructed several critically acclaimed buildings: in 1990, the building for the newspaper Le Monde in Paris; in 1994, the Médiathèque (Multimedia Library) in Orleans, and forthcoming, the Library in Troyes and the Médiathèque (Multimedia Library) in Lisieux. Dominique Lyon is also the author of some significant books (Les avatars de l’architecture ordinaire [Variations of an Architecture of the Ordinary] and Le Corbusier vivant [Living Le Corbusier]), as well as critical writings. By challenging their own architectural praxis, du Besset & Lyon develop fluid and relational spaces which often display the interior functions of the building. The graphic aspect of the serial patterns and the chromatic transparencies at Troyes, and the principle of varying colours and materials in Orleans, mean that architecture evolves between its surface and its depth, its inscription and its mobility, in quest of a pleasure in architecture that is shared by its users. With the public housing units built at Gagny, they strove to reconcile aesthetics and economics. The motifs, inspired by Arab iconography, which they chose to enliven the façade, were turned down, but they managed to gain acceptance for the principle of through housing units, with balconies, small balconies and awnings, as well as an additional room, etc., all this aimed at "creating richer usages", while enabling residents to appropriate their own home.	(F)
	du Besset-Lyon architectes du Besset (Pierre) (1949), Lyon (Dominique) (1954)
	• Logements à Gagny France, réalisé