The Académie Charpentier, a school of interior architecture and design for 80 years, focused on a sustainable future
It was after World War II, in1945, that Irène Charpentier founded the Académie Charpentier. The school quickly became a success and grew to be one of the leadingschools of applied arts in France.
In 1957, the Charpentier family took over the direction of the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, located on Rue de la Grande-Chaumière in Montparnasse, a mecca for the arts frequented by the greatest names in 20th-century painting and sculpture.
Over the decades, the Académie Charpentier has undergone several major transformations, always guided by the samehigh artistic standards anda commitment to keeping pace with changes in the creative world. Initially dedicated to awide range of artistic disciplines—including drawing, painting, sculpture, and the applied arts—the school has gradually established its expertise in spatial design and interior architecture, fields in which its rigor, creativity, and open-mindedness are fully expressed.
A historical and artistic connection with the Académie de la Grande Chaumière.
Today, the “Fine Arts” aspect of this historical legacy lives on through the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, which continues to embody the practice of drawing and free artistic creation from live models.
Thanks to this special partnership, students at the Académie Charpentier have free access to its workshops, thereby continuing the tradition of exchange, creativity, and excellence that has united the two institutions for nearly a century. This unique synergy offers students a comprehensive education: the Grande Chaumière nurtures artistic expression, while the Académie Charpentier develops conceptualization, project planning, and spatial design thinking.
A New Chapterfor the Charpentier Academy
In 2025, a new decisive step was taken as part of this ongoing process: the historic Montparnasse building closed its doors in July. At the start of the following school year, the Académie Charpentier moved into anew, modern campus in the 15th arrondissement.This move symbolizes a commitment to renewal and adaptation to contemporary challenges:redesigned studios, bright and flexible creative spaces, integrated technologies,and an environment conducive to experimentation.
