Government architects and urban planners

The corps des Architectes et urbanistes de l’État (government architects and urban planners) emerged in 1993 from the amalgamation of the corps des Architectes des bâtiments de France (created in 1946) and the corps des Urbanistes de l’État (created in 1962)

Government architects and urban planners form a technical corps of senior civil servants. They contribute to the design and implementation of public policies on urban planning, construction, architecture and heritage, housing and habitat, town & country planning and environment. They are involved in the development of architectural, urban and environmental quality. Their role is to perform management, support, advice, coordination, monitoring and evaluation functions in civil service departments and public institutions. They may be assigned missions in teaching, research and project management.

In order to work in the regional departments of the ministry of culture, Government architects and planners must hold a qualification, diploma or certificate that allows them to use the title of architect in France. They then bear the title of architecte des Bâtiments de France conferred by the ministry of culture.

Student architects and urban planners are recruited:

• Via an external examination with a choice of two options (“Architectural, urban and landscape heritage” option, “Urbanism, planning” option) for candidates under the age of 40 on 1 January of the examination year, holding a degree, diploma, certificate or qualification that allows them to use the title of architect in France
• Via an internal examination with a choice of two options (“Architectural, urban and landscape heritage” option, “Urbanism, planning” option) for civil servants and Government and regional authority employees who have been in public service for at least five years on 1 January of the examination year.

A pivotal player in regional policy

Government architect and urban planners, working within the ministry responsible for sustainable development or the ministry responsible for culture (central, regional or departmental level or within public institutions under their supervision), are therefore pivotal players in the development of regional policy. They implement Government policy and bring their expertise to public interest projects involving multiple issues (technical, socio-economic, cultural,…) running from the protection of historical monuments to the development of eco-neighbourhoods.

Recruitment by examination

Student architects and urban planners are recruited:

• Via an external examination with a choice of two options (“Architectural, urban and landscape heritage” option, “Urbanism, planning” option) for candidates under the age of 40 on 1 January of the examination year, holding a degree, diploma, certificate or qualification that allows them to use the title of architect in France;
• Via an internal examination with a choice of two options (“Architectural, urban and landscape heritage” option, “Urbanism, planning” option) for civil servants and Government and regional authority employees who have been in public service for at least five years on 1 January of the examination year.

Training of Government architects and urban planners

The post-examination programme followed by student Government architects and urban planners lasts one year and comprises: 

• A cycle of theoretical and practical courses, divided into:
• a common core curriculum for all students,
• specific areas of specialisation for each of the two options: urbanism and urban planning on the one hand, architectural, urban and landscape heritage on the other hand.
• One or more practical placements in public departments;
• Completion of an end of course project for presentation to a panel.

Faculty staff