Table of Contents

Contributions and Acknowledgements ix

Introduction xi

Chapter 1 A Look at “Performance” Buildings: An Interdisciplinary Survey of Professionals 1

1.1 Stakeholders for understanding the challenges of energy, the climate and the environment 1

1.1.1 The virtues of active building professionals entering into participation 1

1.1.2 Context and interrelationships around energy-related challenges: the positioning of building professionals 6

1.1.3 Common themes and the questions of the survey 12

1.2 The survey of building professionals in France 14

1.2.1 A nation-wide exploratory survey 15

1.2.2 Complementary investigation methods 16

1.2.3 The analysis: “a radical interdisciplinarity” to question professionnal dynamics in construction and energy 20

1.2.4 Cross-connections with research on professionals from the territories 24

Chapter 2 Uneasiness Among Professionals: Multiple Obstacles 29

2.1 A host of constraints 30

2.1.1 Heterogeneity and the lack of training and skills 31

2.1.2 Multiplication of constraints, economic crises and marketing hype 32

2.2 Prometheus syndrome: The belief in new techniques as a silver bullet 33

2.2.1 The belief in and overreliance on techniques 33

2.2.2 Historical amnesia: The lack of a diachronic perspective and knowledge about the history of technology, construction and architecture 36

2.2.3 The inhabitant as disembodied end user 37

2.3 The “Exquisite Corpse” syndrome: segmentation and the challenges and actors 39

2.3.1 The segmentation of the energy issue 39

2.3.2 The lack of communication and the “blame game” played between actors 41

2.4 From experimentation to standardization and its adverse effects 44

2.4.1 Issues and setbacks in the transition to standardization 45

2.4.2 The adverse effects of standardization 48

2.4.3 A sort of modernism making a comeback ? 51

2.5 Multi-criteria testing: The “trajectory” of problems and solutions 51

2.5.1 The replication of counterproductive decisions 52

2.5.2 “Ostrich syndrome” and “path dependence” 53

2.5.3 The concept of trajectory: “divergence” phenomena and its effects 57

2.6 From a crisis of obstacles, to the devices and the resources needed for a transition 59

Chapter 3 The Characteristics of the Pioneers: Trajectories, Construction, and the Advancement of Their Skills 61

3.1 Adherence to ecological values and the broad array of systems for engagement 61

3.1.1 Environmental sensitivity 61

3.1.2. Wearing many hats: the commitment to a multilateral approach .. 63

3.1.3 Personal experimentation as a driving force for innovation 65

3.1.4 Atypical profiles and career paths, and significant professional mobility 67

3.1.5 The role of reading, the Internet and documentaries 71

3.2 Construction, distribution and adaptation of knowledge, expertise and skills 76

3.2.1 Different countries, regions, and inspiring projects 76

3.2.2 Geographic mobility: movement and transformation of models 78

3.2.3 The role of associations and networks 88

3.2.4 The role of women and the issue of feminization 92

Appendix Selection of First-Hand Accounts from Building Area Participants 97

1 Alain Bornarel 103

2 Alexandre da Silva 119

3 Frank Dimitropoulos 131

4 Michaël Fournier 139

5 Jean-Marc Gary 149

6 Françoise-Hélène Jourda 167

7 Milena Karanesheva and Mischa Witzmann 185

8 Yves Lion 199

9 Bertrand Montarou 211

10 Marine Morain 227

11 Vincent Pierré 247

12 Laurent Vacher-Bruel 259

13 Jean-Luc Vallade 267

14 Delphine Saint-Quentin 277

15 Marika Frenette 289

Conclusion 301

Bibliography 305

Index 327

About the Author

MOLINA Géraldine, Research Engineer, École Centrale de Nantes , FranceMUSY Marjorie, Research Engineer, CNRS, FranceLEFRANC Margot, Urbanist-géograph, France