Presentation
Since 2024, URM MAP has been under the supervision of ENSA Lyon (Aria), Nancy (Crai) and Paris-la Villette (Maacc).
MAP-Aria develops its activities in the field of digital environments for architecture and heritage. Its work questions the mutations, practices and uses of information technologies in these largely multidisciplinary fields. This research leads to the development and implementation of original models and tools.
Founded in 1988 around emerging computer technologies and their applications to architecture, MAP-Aria is a team of the Ministry of Culture's multi-site research unit, created in 1998.
MAP-Aria is directed by Hervé Lequay, architecte DPLG, professor at ENSAL and Kevin Jacquot, architecte DEA, docteur en Sciences de l'Architecture, maître de Conférences at ENSAL.
MAP-Aria fits its research into the two strands of the multi-site research unit's scientific project. The first deals with the description of existing artifacts, while the second addresses the processes and tools involved in the fabrication of future buildings.
The models developed
Models and methods for analyzing architectural and cultural heritage
The conservation of cultural assets corollary induces the notions of " knowledge " and " transmission ". It implies both the apprehension of a state (components, characteristics, purpose) of the asset, and its evolution over time - either with regard to its past (history of the asset) - or its future (in order to guarantee its transmission to future generations), thus responding to the etymology of the word " heritage ".
The work carried out by MAP questions how recent technological and methodological advances can be put to good use in observing, analyzing, publicizing and reinvesting heritage in a more rational, more open, more thrifty, more perennial way.
The work consists of:
- The survey, geometric restitution and semantic characterization of architectural forms
- The preventive conservation, curative conservation and restoration of cultural heritage
- The analysis, structuring and visualization of information and knowledge
Digital models and environments for architectural design
MAP-Aria develops methods and tools to instrument architectural design, in a context of digital transition.
Three major complementary axes are being developed:
- Changes in architectural design practices: questioning practices and experimenting with devices with a view to producing professional and educational methods and tools to support the digital transition
- Upstream design assistance: developing digital tools that can be used during the early phases of architectural design activity; where the architect's role is essential.
- The digital continuum: from design to manufacturing: implement methods and tools that enable the integration of virtual modeling and real-life manufacturing.
"Developing high-level digital skills for innovative, high-performance architectural design".