A STANDARD REFERENCE AMONG ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINES, SINCE 1930
L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui is the oldest French architecture magazine. It was created during the economic crisis, in November 1930, by the architect, sculptor, painter and publisher André BLOC (1896 to 1966).
From its very first issue, L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui promoted the avant-garde and different movements and personalities of the architectural thinking behind "modernity", among whom Le Corbusier, who contributed to several issues. L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui also offers a cross disciplinary vision of period architecture mixing featured subjects, architectural creation, interviews with architects, urbanism and technical resources. At this time, it was the only French architecture magazine known all over the world, thanks to its uncompromisingly international character.
THE RELAUNCH OF THE MAGAZINE IN 2009
For more than 70 years, L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui has embodied architecture influence, quality and viewpoints without concession. In 2009, alerted that this pioneering magazine might disappear, Jean NOUVEL joined forces with François FONTÈS, a French architect, and Alexandre ALLARD, a businessman. These two keen followers decided to buy 'A'A' and create S.A.S Archipress & Associés to continue its publication.
Together, the "founding fathers" of this revival have decided to write a new page in 'A'A's history. At the heart of this project, there is the ambition to find a free and open space for expression, a forum of discussion and interchange. 'A'A' went back to its traditional bimonthly publication from November 2009, with issue No. 374 published following an interruption in publication of nearly 2 years.
EDITORIAL AMBITIONS REITERATED IN 2011
In January 2011, Antoine VERNHOLES took over the management of the magazine. He is committed to strengthening 'A'A' through its demanding, structured, illustrated editing, that remains open to other artistic fields.
The editor is surrounded by an editorial committee, which offers, debates and chooses the subjects for each issue. In the tradition of the previous committees, which shaped the history of L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui, the current committee is continuously enriched by demanding members, with a variety of origins, who contribute to maintaining a magazine with a high level of quality. Outside the editorial committee, an editorial board comprised of great architects from France and abroad (Shigeru Ban, Rudy Ricciotti, Frank Gehry, the group French Touch represented by Aldric Beckmann and Olivier Fassio, Winy Maas, Philippe Starck, and Benedetta Tagliabue), critics (Nicolas Bourriaud and Francis Rambert) and the “founders” (Alexandre Allard, François Fontès and Jean Nouvel), answers the questions of the editorial committee and intervenes periodically to assist with the key orientations of the magazine.
The ambition of 'A'A' in 2011 is to “shed a new light on architecture” by presenting many graphic documents as well as interviews, portraits of key figures or the discovery of emerging talents. The goal of the magazine, in France and abroad, remains to cross viewpoints and look towards other disciplines, such as the arts – including photography, sculpture and video – but also design, landscape and the life of ideas. The magazine remains completely bilingual, in French and English, with an average of 176 pages, to continue the dialogue with readers abroad and maintain the international status given to L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui since 1930.
We suggest you watch the testimonials of 37 architects (opposite), who look back at 'A'A's evolution through the decades.
You can also find L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui issues from the 1930s and 40s on the documentary portal of the Cité de l'architecture & du patrimoine.
If you are looking for information on a past issue of the magazine, please feel free to contact us.
