An incubator for young sustainable architecture agencies
SANA is a post-graduate incubation program developed by Clermont-Ferrand School of Architecture (ENSACF), whose objective is to support young architecture agencies in their development. Launched in 2023, this incubator is designed for emerging practices, which aim to think and build architecture differently. In line with ENSACF's values, centered on rural areas, middle-sized cities, and the ecological transition, this new training program is geared towards innovation in architecture.
National
France
Clermont-Ferrand
Mainly rural
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
No
No
Yes
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): ENSA Clermont-Ferrand Type of organisation: Other public institution First name of representative: Florian Last name of representative: Jomain Gender: Male Nationality: France Function: Program Manager Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 85 Rue du Dr Bousquet Town: Clermont-Ferrand Postal code: 63100 Country: France Direct Tel:+33 6 95 72 34 14 E-mail:incubateur.sana@gmail.com Website:https://www.clermont-fd.archi.fr/
SANA is a post-graduate program developed by the School of Architecture, ENSA Clermont-Ferrand (ENSACF), with the objective of supporting young architecture agencies in their development. The program, launched in 2023, is designed specifically for young architecture firms that are looking to approach the field in a new and innovative way. SANA is aligned with the values of ENSACF, which include a focus on rural areas, middle-sized cities, and the ecological transition.
The program is structured around three main axes : agency management, commercial development, and innovative construction techniques. It is designed to provide young architecture firms with the resources and support they need to grow and succeed in the industry.
Through a combination of training and constant individual mentorship, SANA aims to help young agencies develop the skills and knowledge they need to create unique and sustainable architecture. Additionally, the program will also provide opportunities for networking and collaboration, allowing young firms to connect with other enthusiastic professionals of their generation, exchanging about issues they individually encounter and finding solutions in common.
One of the key aspects of the program is to help the agencies with their development strategies. SANA will guide the agencies in understanding the market trends and how to adapt their portfolio accordingly. The program will also help them scale up by providing them the necessary knowledge and tools to compete in the market.
Overall, SANA is a unique program that is geared towards fostering innovation in the field of architecture. By providing young firms with the tools and resources they need to succeed, the program aims to support the development of the next generation of architects and architecture firms.
Architecture & urbanism
Education & research
Sustainable construction & small cities development
Participative design
Economic growth & ecology
SANA puts a strong emphasis on sustainability. The program is designed to equip incubated agencies with the skills and knowledge they need to design and build environmentally-friendly buildings.
One way SANA achieves this is by offering training and education in sustainable construction techniques, such as wood structure construction, straw-bale construction, and wastewater reuse. These techniques not only reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint but also provide unique design opportunities. Specialists in each of these areas will be giving workshops to the agencies so that they have a better understanding of how to make the best use of these techniques.
Additionally, SANA will be providing specialized training in straw-bale construction, a highly sustainable construction method. As this technique is not widely used in France, architecture firms need a specific training called Pro-paille (straw insulation). SANA will be offering this training for a week to all agencies participating in the program, providing them with the necessary knowledge and expertise to apply this technique in their projects.
SANA's approach is not only to teach sustainable construction techniques but also to support the young agencies in their development, carrying out the values dear to ENSACF in their respective practices. It aims to foster responsible innovation in the field of architecture, and to ensure that the next generation of architects always prioritize sustainability in their work. Based everywhere on the French territory, from Lille to Marseille, we hope that the learnings they get will start spreading and influence other practices in their regions.
SANA aims to raise awareness among the young architecture agencies of the importance of preserving and valuing the cultural and historical significance of an area. Most of the selected agencies already have a strong patrimonial practice. They are aware that a truly sustainable approach to architecture does not lie in building new buildings but in preserving what is already there.
Therefore, a workshop will be given with a specialized "heritage architect" (Ecole de Chaillot) to provide practical training and guidance on how to design spaces that are sensitive to the local context, and that enhance the cultural and historical character of the area. The goal is to create architecture that is harmonious with its surroundings, and that enhances the sense of place for the community.
In addition, SANA’s training program focuses on how to promote positive emotions and cultural benefits through design. The workshops and mentoring sessions aim to teach how to create architecture that is inclusive and accessible, and that promotes social interaction and community-building.
Ultimately, we think we are developing a “method” that we would want to replicate to other architecture schools across France, then Europe. The objective is to test our teaching methodology, a mixture of theoretical and practical workshops focused on sustainable architecture, select the most relevant partners and instructors to try and expand the SANA program through academic partnerships.
SANA focuses on architecture that is respectful of the needs of the community and their environment. In order to facilitate this, the program will teach research methods that allow the young agencies to lead participatory design workshops. These workshops will involve engaging with community members and stakeholders to understand their needs, desires and aspirations for the built environment. By understanding the users' unexpressed needs, the agencies will be able to design buildings and spaces that are more meaningful and relevant to the people who will use them.
The program will also teach lessons in accessibility, which is an essential aspect of creating inclusive and equitable architecture. Accessibility is not only about ensuring that buildings are physically accessible to people with disabilities, but also about creating spaces that are welcoming, comfortable and easy to use for everyone. This means designing spaces that are easy to navigate, have good lighting and ventilation, and are acoustically comfortable. By taking accessibility into account at the design stage, the agencies will be able to create buildings that are more welcoming and inclusive for all.
Overall, SANA's ultimate goal is to foster a more human-centered approach to architecture that contributes to the well-being and quality of life of the people it serves.
Citizens and civil society play a critical role in the incubator initiative as their input and participation is integrated into the project initiatives proposed to the incubator agencies. The agencies, in partnership with ANCT, “Agence Nationale de la Cohésion des Territoires” (French National Agency for the Cohesion of Territory), work to engage with communities and gather feedback from citizens, which is then used to inform the urban studies they conduct. This allows the initiatives to be informed by the perspectives, experiences and needs of those who will be affected by them. The involvement of citizens and civil society is an important aspect of the initiative, as it ensures that the proposals made are reflective of the needs of the communities they serve and ultimately lead to more effective and equitable outcomes.
The two specific partner programs of SANA, “Petites Villes de Demain” (Small Cities of Tomorrow), and “Action Coeur de Ville” (City Centre Action), are designed to target the needs of specific communities, making the involvement of citizens and civil society even more important. These programs aim to improve the quality of life in the targeted communities and ensure that their unique needs and challenges are addressed. By actively involving citizens and civil society in the planning and implementation of these initiatives, the incubator agencies can ensure that the proposed solutions they come up with will be tailored to local needs.
The involvement of citizens and civil society in the incubator initiative has a positive impact on the initiative, as it leads to more informed and inclusive decision-making, tailored solutions, and sustainable outcomes for the communities served by the incubator agencies.
At this stage, SANA has only been implemented within a limited scope, and the European scale has not yet been targeted. However, the program is showing promising results and has the potential to be replicated in other European architecture schools. The program aims to support young architects and architecture students in launching their own architecture firms by providing them with mentorship, workshops, and access to resources, on topics of sustainability and rurality, and this approach is resolutely scalable.
The engagement of different stakeholders at various levels, such as local, regional, national, and European, could play a crucial role in the expansion of the incubation program. Local institutions, for example, could provide support by offering work spaces and facilities for the incubated firms. Regional organizations could on their end provide funding and resources to support their local incubation program. National institutions could offer support by providing access to market research and business development resources. To finish, European organizations could provide support by creating a network of European incubators and incubated firms, thereby fostering collaboration and exchange of best practices.
The engagement of various stakeholders at different levels will be key to ensuring the sustainability and success of the incubation program SANA and enabling it to have a positive impact on the architecture community in Europe.
The design and implementation of SANA involves a range of disciplines and knowledge fields as demonstrated by the diversity of expertise summoned. The lecturers are experts in fields such as marketing, communication, building engineering, territorial engineering, finance, accounting, labor law, copyright law, academic research, or publishing.
The interaction between representatives of these different fields is crucial to the success of SANA as it allows for a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to the incubation of the selected architecture agencies. For example, the marketing experts can help the incubated firms with brand development and communication strategy, while financial experts will provide support with business planning and forecasting. Building and territorial engineers can offer support with technical design and implementation of sustainable construction methods, and the legal experts can provide guidance on contract negotiation, copyright or labor laws.
The added value of this interdisciplinary process is that it provides the incubated firms with a comprehensive support system that covers all aspects of starting and running a young, successful architecture agency. At SANA, we believe that a virtuous and sustainable approach to architecture is not in conflict with a business-oriented approach, but rather enhances its chances of success.
SANA is a unique and innovative concept in the field of architecture and the living environment. It is a growth accelerator housed within a higher education institution and is based on the start-up incubator model, adapted for architecture agencies. This French specificity, with only three of these incubators currently in existence, offers an innovative model that has potential for further development in France and other European countries.
What sets SANA apart from mainstream actions in the field is its combination of technical, pedagogical support from an architecture school, and economic support from private partners, peripheral to architecture. The fact that SANA is housed within a higher education institution offers a unique opportunity for incubated firms to receive both practical and theoretical support. This approach allows the incubated firms to learn from experienced professionals and also gain valuable hands-on experience.
The team who initiated and is leading SANA reflects this multidisciplinary approach. Initiated by Frédéric Martinet, founder of FMAU agency and educational supervisor of the professional training at ENSACF, he was joined by Florian Jomain, CFO at MBL architectes, who will be responsible for the programming, development and partnerships of SANA. Their hands-on grounding in the reality of an architectural practice aims to offer a pragmatic approach that can be quickly put to use by SANA students.
We think that the SANA program is scalable and can be replicables in European architecture schools and universities. The idea is to train and support European education institutions that would be interested in developing incubators and to create a large European network.
The pioneering dimension of ENSACF and SANA could be shared and adapted to the specificities of different universities, allowing them to develop their own incubators, but based on the same model. This would involve transferring knowledge and expertise on how to set up and run an incubator, as well as sharing best practices and lessons learned from the SANA experience.
Overall, the replicability of SANA lies in its ability to provide support to architecture agencies through the incubator model and its ability to share this model and its learnings with other universities and institutions. This approach has the potential to benefit architecture agencies and higher education institutions across Europe, promoting growth and innovation in the field of sustainable architecture and urbanism.
The SANA methodology involves an annual accompaniment program for architecture agencies. The program is limited to a maximum of 20 agencies per year and involves a selection process through submission of a portfolio, a cover letter, CV and administrative file. A selection committee then chooses 20 agencies maximum for the program. In the case of SANA, the program consists of nine two-day monthly seminars, led by experts in their fields.
The program is structured around three main axes, namely: business administration, commercial development, and sustainable innovative construction techniques. The progression of seminars is intended to help ramp up the incubated agencies into their professional practice.
The seminars are accompanied by webinars, tailored to each agency's specific needs. An exploratory session has been held first-hand with the incubated agencies to identify all their specific needs and requests. They can also send training requests to the SANA team during the course of the incubation period. Specific sessions will then be designed accordingly. We intend to keep this tailor-made approach to each promotion of SANA, therefore keeping a training that is utterly relevant and contemporary. Finally, in between each seminar, each agency will be required to complete assigned tasks.
In today's world, reducing carbon footprint is crucial, and it requires actions at all levels. The wide distribution of SANA incubator agencies across the territory directly tackles the architectural and urban issues related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (e.g. CO2 and methane). The agencies work on various projects aimed at reducing emissions, such as improving mobility, revitalizing rural and medium-sized cities, promoting food production, preserving ecosystems and biodiversity, promoting health, and preserving craft and industrial know-how.
The SANA incubator agencies are all committed to finding innovative solutions to reduce emissions and integrate processes of reuse through their work in the built environment. They are committed in their practice to do more, with less. The incubator model provides an innovative platform for architecture agencies to drive change, and by bringing together experts from various fields, it creates a powerful network that drives real impact on the ground.
The first edition of the SANA incubation program was launched in January 2023, following months of preparation. The program focuses on three main areas: business administration, commercial development, and sustainable construction techniques such as wood structures, wastewater reuse, thermal energy, and straw-bale construction. The thematic and chronological structure of the program aims to gradually enhance the skills of the incubated agencies by the end of the program in November 2023.
Although still in the early stages of development, the program is already yielding positive results for the incubated agencies, including improved regional positioning, network-building with local representatives, and a healthier financial analysis for long-term growth.
In the coming year, the incubation program will be further strengthened to address the specific needs of each agency through workshops on topics such as setting up an architecture agency in rural areas, integrating degrowth into an architectural project, and approaching projects in international markets. Additionally, technical workshops such as web development and Excel training will be offered.
SANA's contribution to the New European Bauhaus is to foster a sustainable practice of architecture through the territories where the incubated agencies operate. The program aims to be a single, cohesive project with a long-term impact.
The competences, as described in the European competence framework on sustainability, are met by SANA’s program objectives in several ways:
1. Embodying Sustainability Values: SANA, in alignment with ENSA Clermont-Ferrand, its host institution, has made sustainability a core value in its incubation program. The incubated agencies have been carefully selected to have a focus on sustainability in their practice, with varying levels of maturity. They prioritize a respectful approach in their construction projects and a commitment to social issues such as aging populations, feminism, and disability.
2. Embracing Complexity in Sustainability: Through SANA and the guest lecturer selection, we aim to offer an ecosystemic approach to architectural project implementation. We not only focus on business or construction issues but also plan lectures in philosophy and sociology to broaden and challenge the thinking of incubated agencies and promote a critical approach to their practice.
3. Envisioning Sustainable Futures: The program includes a seminar on research methodologies, usability, and participatory design. The goal is to help incubated agencies adopt a mindset that prioritizes working with local populations to develop tailored solutions. This mindset is reflected in the development of SANA's tailor-made program itself, which aims to develop competences in adaptability and exploratory thinking in the architectural project.
4. Acting for Sustainability: SANA embodies the sustainable agenda it aims to promote. By providing young, forward-thinking agencies with the necessary tools and encouraging individual and participative actions, the program has the potential to foster a sustainable mindset.
