Collaborations

Off the Record: Djuric – Tardio

In the Proust’s short questionnaire style, AA questions architects about their profession, their projects, their vision of the future. Today, we meet the office Djuric Tardio Architectes, based in Paris. Mirco Tardio and Caroline Djuric created their office in 2004, focusing on two research axes : sustainability and energy optimization, for both architecture and urban densification. Their work has been vastly awarded; among the prizes they have won, the EDF Bas Carbone 2014 competition, the Europan 7 competition, or les Lauriers du Bois 2012 (town house category).
© Djuric-Tardio
© Djuric-Tardio

Being an architect means…

Caroline Djuric : Being both a one-man/woman-band and an acrobat.

Mirco Tardio : Being involved and driving our own order, coordinating the actors and making them aware of the new environmental issues of the city in transformation.

Your perfect commission would be…

CD : The perfect client’s one… no matter what the commission is, if there are good spirits and intentions, the project gets interesting.

MT : The one that comes from a full reflexion: environmental and bioclimatic, futuristic and visionary, ambitious and caring.

Creche Botzaris, Paris, 2016 © Djuric-Tardio
Creche Botzaris, Paris, 2016 © Djuric-Tardio

Your job in 20 years

CD : It will probably be more turned towards respect for the existing heritage, and rehabilitation. I wish it to be focused on sustainable issues… and be less egocentric.

MT : It is nowadays evolving quickly, with new kinds of commissions, strong social and environmental goals. As a student, I was aware of beginning my work practice at a hard time. In just a few years things have quickly evolved, and we need to act on many aspects. We need to mark our time by a new bioclimatic architectural style, to build with new , sustainable and biosourced materials, to seek the right formula to build the city ‘on’ the city … In 20 years the goal is to have succeeded in all of that.

The advice you’d give to a young architect

CD : Never be afraid to admit you do not know something, but always try to understand everything…there is so much to learn. We need to learn all the technical aspects and the complexity of a project in order to make a coherent and sustainable architecture.

MT : Never miss a thing, always adapt to the situation, and have a curious look on everything.

Creche dans le jardin du Luxembourg © Djuric-Tardio
Crèche dans le jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, 2016, © Djuric-Tardio

What you want to transmit to your co-workers

CD : How to build an architecture linked to the use and the site, and taking care of details.

MT : The enthusiasm of being an architect nowadays: being the person who invents and goes beyond his expected limits.

The emerging architect everyone should follow

CD : HArquitectes

MT : I don’t know, there are a lot of architects we should follow.

The project you would have loved to sign

CD : The Barcelone pavillon… small but powerful !

MT : The Stahl House in Los Angeles and the Bains des Docks in Le Havre.

Talent Makers Lab, Inventons la Métropole du Grand Paris © Djuric-Tardio
Talent Makers Lab à Gennevilliers, Inventons la Métropole du Grand Paris © Djuric-Tardio

The other job you would have liked to practice

CD : Author and illustrator.

MT : Chef !

An inspiring place

CD : Nature, gardens…  Taking naps inspires me as well !

MT : The plane.

A book, an object, a piece of art you particularly love

CD : Bandini by John Fante, Jean Prouvé’s small structures ; simples, smart, beautiful and involved.

MTUnder Pressure by Thomas Keller and Les mémoires by Fernand Pouillon.

Le Mans © Djuric-Tardio
Le Mans © Djuric-Tardio

Visit the office’s website to see all the projects! 

React to this article