The wilful disfiguring of a building as prestigious as the École Militaire leads one to question whether there is not at that institution a more thoughtful alternative than the absence of overall perspective that can be seen in the piling up of prefabricated office buildings, even if they are claimed to be temporary. Surely a limit should be set to the lack of respect shown towards our military heritage? The defence community helps to preserve the nation’s basic interests, and according to Article 410-1 of the Penal Code the cultural heritage figures among those interests. Restoration of the École Militaire could serve as an example, because there is no shortage of inspired ideas on its future purpose.