“Extra Muros, Architecture of Delight” is a traveling photo exhibition, specifically tailored for international presentation. It focuses on architecture in tune with current urban situations, territorial or program-related issues that are relevant throughout the world (transit stops, schools, urban and rural residences, ecologically-correct buildings…) The projects- which will be presented at the Alliance in two phases- show that “good” architecture is not as rare as it seems, and that if we do not see it, it is because it is not where we expect it, or because it’s simpler, more modest or simply less preoccupied with its durability than we might imagine.

In a certain manner, “Extra-muros” offers back doors designed to attract those who, a priori, have always felt that contemporary architecture was unbearable. It forces them to change their angle of view and forget their preconceptions, because it speaks of adventure, invention and creativity and through that, of course, leads imperceptibly to the consideration of contemporary architecture as something other than a closed world or reserved domain – which also explains the choice of only showing documents that can be read and understood by everyone (no plans, or cross-sections or technical drawings).

As stated by Palesa Brown of Black Rage Productions in Johannesburg, South Africa, the exhibition “gathers exceptional photographs of master architects’ buildings such as Jean Nouvel’s Justice Court in Nantes, as well as other constructions that make the exhibition a visual tribute to diversity, freedom, a certain taste for adventure, generosity, integrity, lightness and forms of enchantment.” “Extra-Muros, architectures of delight” is organized by CulturesFrance and will tour, after Johannesburg last year and now in Pretoria, in most of the Alliances Françaises of Southern Africa.