The village of Laure-Minervois, in the Aude, faces marked decline: an ageing population, the gradual disappearance of shops, vacant homes. Recent changes in the wine-growing landscape, notably its mechanisation, have increased the isolation of the old centre, abandoned in favour of new suburban housing.

Our work is grounded in a detailed reading of the place: rather than imposing fixed forms, we sought to reveal the potential of what exists and to identify the levers for a gradual reconquest of the village centre. The project builds on the intrinsic qualities of the urban fabric – its compactness, its existing public spaces, its relationship with the landscape – to devise an overall strategy based on uses, timeframes and local resources.

Rather than a fixed masterplan, we proposed a method: a series of concrete, gradual actions designed to welcome new ways of living, support local economic activity and rebuild ties between residents. This project marked a turning point in our practice: it affirms the need for an architecture of repair, able to revive fragile territories without distorting them.