The Grains d'Isère Festival opens its doors to the public on 29 May from 10am to 8.30pm in Villefontaine. For its 22nd edition, the festival explores raw earth in the face of the effects of climatic hazards. Prolonged heatwaves, torrential rain, cyclones or earthquakes: these hazards are intensifying and calling for innovative constructive responses. So the festival becomes a living laboratory where experiments, conferences and artistic creations come together around the same question: How can the earth help us to live in the world of tomorrow?
On the programme
from 9am to 11am
- Guided tours of building experiments: modules built on a scale of 1 by ENSAG's Postmaster "Earthen Architecture" students and professionals, exploring raw earth techniques (reinforced rammed earth, pretensioned earth, poured earth, bahareque, plaster, etc.).
- Interactive workshops (for children aged 4 and over): through a series of interactive experiments, discover the properties of raw earth materials to understand why and how it is possible to build with earth. An introduction to the production of raw earth materials and the fun construction of model earthen houses.
from 11.30am to 1pm
- Projection: a look back at the building and renovation of the 24h House.
from 2pm to 4pm
- Guided tours of building experiments: modules built on a scale of 1 by ENSAG's Postmaster "Earthen Architecture" students and professionals, exploring raw earth techniques (reinforced rammed earth, pretensioned earth, poured earth, bahareque, plaster, etc.).
- Interactive workshops (for children aged 4 and over): through a series of interactive experiments, discover the properties of raw earth materials to understand why and how it is possible to build with earth. An introduction to the production of raw earth materials and the fun construction of model earthen houses.
from 4pm to 6pm
- Round table: discussions and debates between the Major Risks Association and students from ENSAG's DSA in earthen architecture on risks and earthen architecture.
6.30pm to 7.30pm
- Artistic performance: artistic exploration of reconstruction gestures, collective memory and spontaneity in emergency situations.
Throughout the day
- Exhibitions:
- From matter to architecture, an educational exhibition on the different forms of raw earth material, from its raw state to its constructive elements.
- Bienvenue en zone à risque(s) (Welcome to high-risk areas), an exhibition of projects illustrating the 3 main types of intervention in high-risk areas.
- Temporary library & bookshop: find out more by consulting technical and popular works on earth construction.
- Meetings and discussions: with the students, teachers, researchers and craftspeople involved.
Download the detailed programme
Practical information
Date: 29 May 2025
Times: from 9am to 8pm
Venue: Les Grands Ateliers, 96 Bd de Villefontaine, 38090 Villefontaine
Price: free of charge
Partners: École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Grenoble, AE&CC research unit, CRAterre research team, CRAterre association, Les Grands Ateliers, Asterre
