Chris Younès is a psychosociologist, doctor and qualified researcher in philosophy. She is also a professor at the ESA (École Spéciale d'Architecture), at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Paris-La Villette, and a member of the board of directors and the scientific council of the ENSA Saint-Étienne.
At the origin of many projects, she founded the Gerphau laboratory (EA 7486) of which she is Honorary President, as well as the thematic scientific network PhilAU (Philosophy, architecture, urban) of the Ministry of Culture. Chris Younès also co-founded the ARENA (architectural research european network) of which she is a member, as well as the journals l'esprit des villes and Le Philotope. Finally, she is a member of the Europan scientific council.
Chris Younès is a member of several architectural and urban planning competition committees and the author of numerous books. Her publications and research develop an interface between architecture and philosophy on the question of the place of living, at the meeting point between ethics and aesthetics as well as between nature and artifact. She gives numerous conferences in France and abroad (Europe, Middle East, China, Canada, South America).
In 2014 Chris Younès was appointed Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur.
In 2019, the Academy of Architecture awards Chris Younès the 2019 Silver Medal for Teaching and Research.
Among his works:
- Le philosophe chez l'architecte (M. Mangematin codir.), Descartes & Cie, 1996 ;
- Ville contre-nature, published by La Découverte, 1999;
- Henri Maldiney. Philosophie, art et existence, éd. du Cerf, 2007;
- Le territoire des philosophes. Lieu et espace dans la pensée au XXe siècle, (Th. Paquot codir), ed. La Découverte, 2009;
- L'indéfinition, with Benoît Goetz and Philippe Madec, éditions de la Villette, 2009;
- Philosophie de l'environnement et milieux urbains, (Th. Paquot codir.), éd. La Découverte, 2010 ; " Architecture des milieux ", with B. Goetz, Le Portique n°25, 2010 ;
- Lieux d'être, with Michel Mangematin, Archibooks, 2011 ;
- Espace et lieu dans la pensée occidentale. De Platon à Nietzsche, (Th. Paquot codir.), ed. La Découverte, 2012 ;
- Perception Architecture Urbain, (X. Bonnaud codir.), Infolio 2014 ;
- Recycling the Urban, (R. D'Arienzo co-director), MétisPresses, 2014 ;
- Maurice Sauzet, poétique de l'architecture, Norma éd. 2015 ;
- A l'épreuve d'exister, Henri Maldiney, proceedings of the 2014 Cerisy conference, (O. Frérot codir.), ed. Hermann, 2016 ;
- Latent Urban Resources, (R. D'Arienzo codir.), MétisPress, 2016 ;
- Encore l'architecture. Encore la philosophie, (C. Bodart codir.), Hermann, 2016 ;
- Lines of Universe. Métamorphoses des vies urbaines, (with B. Giorgini), ed. Les points sur les i, 2017
- At the turning point of experience, (C. Bodart codir.), Hermann, 2018
- Architectures of existence, Hermann, 2018
- Urban Synergies, (R. D'Arienzo codir.), MétisPress, 2018