The
Living City

The preservation of life, in all its forms and adaptations, lies at the heart of our concerns in the face of climate disruption and dwindling resources. In response to these challenges the Bap! is opening new perspectives and fostering the sharing of knowledge and innovation around architecture, landscape and urban planning in the Paris Region and beyond.

Edito

The growing size and demographics of our cities urge us to answer a double question: will the city of tomorrow be for or against humanity? Will it be an ally or an adversary of nature?

In the face of the destructive impacts of climate change, we must regenerate the relationships that cities maintain with living beings. We have the power to act and shift from a logic of exploiting nature to one of care and restoration—transforming our cities for the well-being of all.

All residents, regardless of where they live, should be able to enjoy more beautiful, open, and breathable neighborhoods. To achieve this, it will not be enough to simply plant trees along a few avenues or break up concrete. We must rethink the city itself, as well as urban life! This challenge can be met through urban planning and architecture, which have the power to profoundly reshape our cities—through the organization and connection of transport networks and through new technologies, including AI.

I hope that this third edition of the BAP! Île-de-France will contribute to reconnecting urban planning with the living world and fostering an essential collective reflection. This event invites debate among French and international stakeholders, professionals, elected officials, and, most importantly, the general public.

Valérie Pécresse

President of Île-de-France Region

Following « Man, City and Nature” in 2019 and “Land and Cities” in 2022, the Ile-de-France Architecture and Landscape Biennial (Biennale d’Architecture et de Paysage de la Région Île-de-France) in Versailles continues its reflection with “The Living City” (La Ville Vivante).

This third edition invites town planning professionals and the public to take a closer look at new lifestyles and the way we live in cities in the context of global warming.

In conjunction with Versailles’ two national schools of higher education in architecture and landscaping (Écoles Nationales Supérieures d’Architecture et de Paysage), five main exhibitions will be taking place in some of the city’s iconic venues. Curated by a dozen internationally renowned architects and landscapers, the exhibitions will be accompanied by a wide variety of other events.

On Avenue de Paris, opposite the Palace, and in partnership with La Métropole du Grand Paris (greater Paris area), a wooden pavilion with two oversize windows will be there to offer a novel view of the Palace and a program of debates and conferences.

François de Mazières

Head Curator of the Biennial, Mayor of Versailles
Former Chairman of the Cité d’Architecture et du Patimoine

The theme of the 3rd Bap! will be "The Living City".

At the heart of this edition lies a commitment to preserve all forms of life, to promote a healthier and more harmonious living environment, and to protect vital resources to safeguard our planet.

Through a program of exhibitions in prestigious venues across Versailles, alongside conferences, debates and participatory workshops held by curators with rich and varied backgrounds, Bap! 2025 will be a major event. The Biennale will bring together partners with a wide range of expertise: local authorities and associated bodies, national colleges of architecture and landscape, national cultural establishments, planning establishments, giving a voice to professionals in urban planning, construction, housing and landscape, academics, sociologists and artists.

Credit Nef Espinasseau
Credit Arnauld Duboys Fresney
Credit Marchi Architectes - Attilio Fiumarella

Exhibitions

Immerse yourself in the heart of the event through captivating exhibitions exploring the profound link between life and its environment, whether urban or natural. Among the subjects to be discovered: a new perspective on our cities through rehabilitation and repair, an architectural approach inspired by the countries of the South and a focus on the often-overlooked benefits of nature in urban spaces. Find out more about its first six exhibitions and its pavilion!