Keeping up the tension between exhibition catalogue and monograph, Impasse des Lilas explores the interweaving of theories, personal histories, objects and projects that define the architectural practice of MBL architectes, an architectural practice founded in Paris by Sébastien Martinez-Barat and Benjamin Lafore.

Conceived as a science-fiction narrative, the book brings together some 100 objects drawn from the productions and research of MBL, guest artists and architects and a selection of everyday objects, exhibition photographs by Antoine Espinasseau and contributions from international theorists Alexandra Midal, Thomas Daniell and Philip Ursprung. Published following the eponymous exhibition at Arc en rêve, Bordeaux, in 2022.

With works by Etel Adnan, Christopher Alexander, Andreas Angelidakis, Barry Bergdoll, Berger-Berger, BIC, François Blanciak, Bombyx Mama, Simon Boudvin, Andrea Branzi, Robert Breer, Abbé Henri Breuil, Édouard Cabay, Roger Caillois, Thomas Clerc, Mahé Cordier Jouanne, Maxime Delvaux, Estelle Deschamps, Dewez, Documents, Nicolas Dorval-Bory, Julien Dossena / Paco Rabanne, DPA Dominique Perrault, Bernard Dubois, E.A.T., ensamble studio, Annie Ernaux, Eurogroupe, European Space Agency, EZCT, Forensic Architecture, Camille Fréchou, Elsa Garmire, Géocorail, Daniel Grataloup, GTE 2017, Lawrence Halprin, Hiroshi Hara, D.G. Huquier, Arata Isozaki, Charles Jencks, Philip Johnson, Kaiserin, Wajiro Kon, Anne Lacaton et Jean-Philippe Vassal, Bertrand Lamarche, La Ville Rayée (David Apheceix, Benjamin Lafore, Sébastien Martinez-Barat), Lucas LaRochelle, Georges-Louis Le Rouge, Édouard Levé, Sarah Lévy, Thomas Lévy-Lasne, Cédric Libert, Soshi Matsunobe, Didier Marcel, McDonald’s, Mathieu Mercier, Thierry Metz, Gustav Metzger, Timothy Morton, Muoto, Ryuji Nakamura, PEREZ, Gianni Pettena, Matthieu Peyroulet, Plan Libre, Joanne Pouzenc, P.R.B., Franco Purini & Laura Thermes, François-Nicolas-Henri Racine de Monville, Philippe Rahm, Jean-Pierre Raynaud, Thomas Raynaud, Renault Classic, Hubert Robert, Damien Roger, Stéphane Ruchaud, Richard Sapper, Denise Scott Brown, Secchi, Nicolas Simon, SITE (James Wines), Emilio Terry, Stanley Tigerman, Aldéric Trével, Hachij Toshihito, Bernard Tschumi, Max Turnheim, Unifi Design Center, Béatrice Utrilla, Giesbert van Laar, Pierre Vanni, Venturi Scott Brown Architects, Wilhem Wagenfield, Loïs Weinberger, Judith Wielander, James Wong, Kazumasa Yamashita.