The landscape in Claude Parent’s nuclear power plants
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/jau.2026.21017Abstract
Nuclear power plants constitute a type of energy infrastructure that began to colonize the landscape following the oil crisis. The year 1974 marked a turning point in the conception of these large-scale engineering works. Until then, their design and siting strategies were driven by technical considerations determined by teams of engineers dedicated to ensuring their operability and safety. With the emergence of growing social awareness regarding environmental protection and the degradation of natural landscapes, corporations within the nuclear sector, such as Électricité de France, promoted research on landscape as a complement to the technical dimension, entrusting architects such as Claude Parent. In the current context, the climate crisis has once again placed nuclear power plants at the centre of political and energy debates. This article not only seeks to shed light on the largely overlooked research conducted by the French architect through an exploration and contextualization of his work but also aims to address more broadly the evolution of conceptions of the landscape associated with these installations.
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Claude Parent, nuclear power plant, architecture, landscape, productive landscape, energy productionHow to Cite
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Copyright (c) 2026 The Author(s). Published by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.
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Copyright (c) 2026 The Author(s). Published by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.
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