"There is a constant concern in the architecture of Jean-Philippe Lanoire and Sophie Courrian that can be pointed out: it is about fluidity, evidence, balance, and a way to accurately address a request. This fluidity is set both as a principle of diversification that is based on the addition of solutions, and a principle of coherence that gathers experiences and links up the extremes. It has to do with calling forth a presence without falling into some kind of burdensome demonstration of consistency, but without reaching a point of exhaustion through fruitless transparency. The Lanoire and Courrian duo bypasses, domesticates and combines architectural forms. They are on the lookout for the smallest source of enticement and know how to mobilize lines, spaces and functions that are in tension between their deepest reality and their most secret essence. Therefore, Lanoire and Courrian’s credo is to have immediate and repeated connection with the idea of wandering, flow in their architecture. Such mobility claims for a starting point, a foundation and a large scope of action and investigation. If we take into account this movement, there are several examples. A harbor station is introduced as a nomadic adventure with several itineraries spreading out their momentum and drawing out their singularities and their sequences with equal requirements. A shed becomes a strange boat tuned to the call of the sea. A media center melts into the lively flow and the outside light, while favoring intimacy and a peaceful atmosphere inside the building. A tramway shows a sleek, moving and naturally active strength, a suppleness that converses with everything that it goes through. Lanoire and Courrian’s architectural writing is first and foremost a point of view that efficiently opens two eyelids on the surrounding world to enliven it. The question is not to be seen, nor appear strongly in it, but to know how to look around in order to harmoniously become part of it. Hence, no confrontation and no link that would be intensively claimed for but a prolific exchange that would be sensitive to the environment and its multiple constraints, and the legitimate pleasure to work things out, trying out to make them breathe." Didier Arnaudet