concours
Page approvedn. m. · design competition · architectural competition
Definition
Procédure par laquelle un maître d'ouvrage met plusieurs équipes de maîtrise d'œuvre en concurrence sur un même programme. Un jury choisit le projet lauréat, qui est ensuite développé par son auteur. Les équipes non retenues reçoivent souvent une indemnité, la prime.
A procedure in which an owner puts several design teams in competition on the same brief. A jury chooses the winning project, which is then developed by its author. Unsuccessful teams often receive a fee, the prime.
Example sentences
Written (email, official document)
FRLe maître d'ouvrage lance un concours restreint : trois équipes sont retenues et remettent une esquisse.
ENThe owner launches a restricted competition: three teams are shortlisted and submit a concept design.
Spoken (standard)
FROn a gagné le concours, mais le budget est déjà trop juste.
ENWe won the competition, but the budget is already too tight.
Spoken (informal)
FRTrois semaines sur ce concours, et le jury a choisi le projet de nos concurrents.
ENThree weeks on this competition, and the jury picked our competitors' project.
Nuances and pitfalls
Application, then project. In France, a public competition often has two stages: an application stage, where the jury shortlists a few teams, then a project stage, where they submit an esquisse (n. f.). The teams not selected receive a prime (n. f.).
Handing in an entry. In French, you “hand in” (rendre) a competition at a deadline, like any rendu (deliverable); the weeks before are often a charrette (crunch time).
Related terms
charretterendu (livrable)esquissemaître d'ouvrageValidation
- French term, register, FR sentences : ✓ validated
- US/UK equivalents and EN sentences : ✓ validated
Reviewed by Raphaël B. · 8 Oct 2026
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