The open architecture research group is a research association focused on drawing. It explores the potential of freehand and on-site drawing as a means of producing scientific and technical knowledge.
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about
open architecture
research
workshop
publication
team
contact
support/membership
32bis rue du Lieutenant Becker
97300 Cayenne, Guyane, France
contact
support/membership
32bis rue du Lieutenant Becker
97300 Cayenne, Guyane, France
support/membership
32bis rue du Lieutenant Becker
97300 Cayenne, Guyane, France
This approach, rooted in a daily and immersive practice, highlights drawing as a medium capable of revealing spatial, social, and ecological dimensions that are often difficult to grasp through other means. It proposes a methodology for understanding and representing the systems and adaptations developed in response to contemporary socio-environmental challenges.
Drawing is used as both an analytical and narrative tool to explore the issues of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable architectural practice.
Since its creation in 2020, graou has conducted research through drawing in numerous international metropolises, including Mumbai, Ouagadougou, Istanbul, Ho Chi Minh City, and Rio de Janeiro. These interventions—carried out in diverse contexts—reflect a commitment to documenting and questioning evolving territories while promoting vernacular and informal architectural practices.
graou also conducts studies on coastal habitability in France, focusing particularly on the regions of Occitanie and French Guiana, where climate and environmental challenges are especially pronounced.
The association's activities are structured around three main areas: research, workshop, and publication.
Through these initiatives, graou aims to promote the concept of open architecture by analyzing, representing, and disseminating its spatial dimensions.
01 open architecture
The concept of open architecture is inspired by open data. It is an approach to architecture—whether practiced with or without architects—that embraces collaborative, adaptive, and accessible methods open to all.
Open architecture is characterized by the use of available materials—often repurposed—and local expertise that align with principles of frugality and resilience. These often informal practices are rooted in a solidarity-based economy, revealing a form of collective intelligence embedded in the history and daily life of territories. They challenge conventional notions of reversibility, adaptability, and temporality, offering a reservoir of precedents that inspire responses to contemporary challenges.
Much like open data, open architecture is based on the idea that resources—whether materials, knowledge, or land—should be accessible to everyone and used collectively. It promotes a logic of sharing, where every construction or development becomes a reusable and adaptable element. Just as open data democratizes information to foster collaboration and innovation, open architecture envisions spaces designed and enriched through the active participation of users. This dynamic emphasizes inclusive practices, encouraging both ownership and adaptability within inhabited territories.
Open architecture emerges as a deeply engaged spatial and social approach. It offers an alternative to dominant paradigms, highlighting collective intelligence and local solutions to rethink the way we inhabit the Earth.
02 research
graou has developed a research methodology centered on drawing, placing this tool at the core of its field investigations, representation, and knowledge transmission. This method is structured around three complementary phases: Study, Depict, and Discuss.
Study : drawing to understand
Research begins with on-site immersion, where drawing becomes the primary tool for observation and analysis. This phase aims to generate in-depth knowledge of a place, capturing its spatial, social, and climatic dynamics. graou prioritizes freehand, in-situ drawing, which demands a slower pace and heightened attentiveness to the environment. This methodological choice enables the capture of details often overlooked in conventional approaches.
This stage fosters a multisensory approach, where each line conveys a perception or an observed element, revealing aspects of architectural and urban space that might otherwise remain invisible. The method encourages direct engagement with the environment, as the drawer—through their prolonged and visible presence—enters into an implicit dialogue with the site and its users. This active stance enriches not only the visual output but also the relationship between the observer and the studied space.
Additional tools such as photography, video, and interviews complement this exploration. While these media provide a broader perspective, the deliberate pace and precision of drawing allow for a more nuanced and intellectual understanding of spaces.
Each research project culminates in detailed documentation, often compiled into field notebooks, where graphic recordings intertwine with notes and reflections. These notebooks serve as a valuable foundation for the next phases of the process.
Depict : [re]drawing to generate knowledge
Once data has been collected, the depiction phase focuses on translating observations into clear and communicable representations. Re-drawing—done in the studio—refines the raw sketches made on-site, giving them graphic and narrative coherence. This step is crucial in transforming drawings into effective tools for knowledge transmission. In this process, the redrawn sketches become a form of architectural storytelling, articulating the dialogue between space, social practices, and temporality.
The depiction process is guided by a specific theme, selected based on the research objectives. For example, it may highlight the spatial qualities of vernacular architecture or illustrate interactions between users and their environment. The final outputs include plans, sections, elevations, and analytical diagrams, presented according to architectural representation standards. These drawings go beyond static descriptions, exploring use dynamics and the underlying narratives of a place, thereby enhancing their educational and cultural impact.
This step makes the essential characteristics of studied sites perceptible, offering an enriched interpretation of the collected data. It also facilitates the dissemination of knowledge to diverse audiences, including professionals, researchers, and the general public.
Discuss : drawing to disseminate and debate
The final step involves sharing and debating the results and methodology with a broader audience. graou organizes exhibitions, workshops, conferences, and publications to foster discussions around the knowledge produced. This discussion phase is crucial for testing the validity of findings, gathering feedback, and stimulating interdisciplinary exchanges.
This dissemination process also includes interactions with local communities who inhabit the studied spaces. Drawing becomes a tool for mediation and exchange, capable of overcoming linguistic or cultural barriers.
By confronting findings with external perspectives, this step enriches reflections and opens up practical applications. It also aims to encourage the appropriation of knowledge by different stakeholders, whether local authorities, practitioners, or students.
graou’s methodology extends beyond the purely academic realm, embracing a committed and engaged approach. It highlights drawing as a heuristic tool, capable of revealing invisible dynamics and fostering a sensitive and critical perspective on architecture. Through its research, graou explores diverse territories, sheds light on local practices, and proposes solutions adapted to contemporary socio-environmental challenges.
This approach challenges the relationship between the researcher and space, emphasizing the potential of drawing to articulate what cannot be expressed verbally or textually.
03 workshop
graou places workshops at the core of its approach, considering drawing not only as an analytical tool but also as a learning method. These workshops offer a hands-on exploration of drawing’s potential—both as a means of precise observation and as a medium for collective production.
Within graou’s framework, the workshop extends beyond graphic practice to become a shared space for reflection on architectural and territorial dynamics.
Introduction to architectural drawing
Multi-day workshops designed for beginners, providing an introduction to drawing as a tool for spatial analysis and understanding architectural relationships.
Architectural survey and analysis
Intensive sessions that apply graou’s methods, emphasizing on-site observation and precise graphic representation of architectural and territorial elements.
Collective mapping
Collaborative workshops—often conducted with local residents or students—that create shared representations of a place. Using existing maps or surveys, participants cross perspectives to produce sensitive and contextually rich cartographies.
Long-term immersion
Immersive workshops spanning one to two weeks, structured as on-site residencies. These programs integrate observation, survey, re-drawing, and analysis in an iterative process, allowing for an in-depth understanding of a given territory.
These workshops combine sensitive observation with rigorous graphic production, fostering the emergence of shared knowledge. Whether by revealing spatial qualities, analyzing usage dynamics, or developing collective representations, they actively engage various territorial stakeholders.
graou is always looking for new partnerships. If you are interested in organizing a workshop, feel free to contact us here.
04 publication
graou views knowledge dissemination as an essential part of its research work. This effort goes beyond merely presenting results; it follows a critical and educational approach, aiming to stimulate debate and encourage the appropriation of produced knowledge.
Trois principaux axes structurent les actions de diffusion de l’association :
Traveling exhibitions
graou designs ready-to-display exhibitions that showcase its research in publicly accessible venues such as cultural centers, schools, and libraries. These exhibitions highlight drawings, cartographies, and analytical studies while incorporating an educational component to engage a broader audience.
Conferences and debates
The association organizes talks and experience-sharing sessions to present its methodologies and findings. These events, often held in academic or professional settings, foster interdisciplinary discussions on topics explored by graou, such as informal housing dynamics, vernacular architecture, and climate adaptation strategies.
Micro-publishing
graou operates a micro-publishing studio, equipped with a risograph duplicator, to produce limited-edition publications such as zines, research notebooks, posters, and postcards. These graphically engaging and accessible formats help disseminate insights from residencies and workshops, serving as tangible tools for sharing research with diverse audiences.
Through these dissemination strategies, drawing-based research becomes visible and contributes to collective reflection on architectural and territorial issues. By promoting a graphic, participatory, and critical approach, graou engages in dialogue with diverse audiences while reinforcing the role of drawing as a tool for mediation and knowledge transmission.
permanent team
Zoé Bourret, HMONP architect in Paris,
President of GRAOU,
zb(at)graou.archi
Achille Pelletier, architect/urban planner in Paris,
Treasurer of GRAOU,
ap(at)graou.archi
Benoit d’Almeida, PhD in architecture in Lyon,
bda(at)graou.archi
Lucie Perrier, HMONP architect in Cayenne,
lp(at)graou.archi
Cyril Costes, architect/illustrator in Cayenne,
cc(at)graou.archi
nom
de l’association :
siège de l’association :
bureau :
numéro SIRET :
téléphone :
hébergeur du site internet :
contact :
directrice de publication :
siège de l’association :
bureau :
numéro SIRET :
téléphone :
hébergeur du site internet :
contact :
directrice de publication :
We are open to all forms of collaboration, whether it’s developing new research, organizing workshops, or disseminating our work. Feel free to contact us to discuss potential partnership opportunities.
Groupe de Recherche en Architecture OUvert.e
15 rue Nicolas Boileau 66000 Perpignan
32bis rue du Lieutenant Becker 97300 Cayenne
88978703200024
+33 (0)6 52 20 92 65
ovh.com
bonjour (at) graou.archi
Zoé Bourret
Credit drawings/videos :
First page : Lucas Avice, Adèle Gissinger, Mattéo Hugedé, Maugueret Mary, Truc-Delprat Laurie, Jobard-Houdusse Nolwenn, Achille Pelletier, Margot Stuckelberger, Lucie Perrier, Cyril Costes, Thomas Brun et Florent Quintard, Zoé Bourret, Raphaël André.
Video : Garance Paillasson.
L’ensemble des productions du GRAOU est sous licence amicale. N’hésitez pas à nous écrire pour utiliser nos documents.