We are honored that Maroquinerie Hermès de la Sormonne has been named the Jury Winner in the Industrial Building category at the Archello Awards 2024. This Ardennes-based project is a testament to sustainable and innovative design, enhancing artisan well-being.

On the occasion of the BODW in Hong Kong from December 4 to 7, Thomas Coldefy will give a session on Reimagining Urban Landscapes, during which he will take us on a journey to rethink our urban futures. Crafting harmonious spaces that breathe life into the urban jungle, ensuring that cities are not just functional but also deeply human, is indeed at the heart of Coldefy’s projects. The Hong Kong Design Institute or the National Pulse Memorial & Museum in Orlando are perfect examples. 

Thomas Coldefy will also take part in a round table discussion with Thomas Heatherwick and Ma Yansong on Master Planning for Future Cities.

The multidisciplinary team lead by the French architecture firm Coldefy, in collaboration with local architects Atelier 4, the Italian artist Jacopo Foggini, Sempervirens landscapers, and AEI Progetti, has been announced as the winner of the international competition to design the Public Administration Cluster in Tirana, Albania. The competition, organized by the National Territory Planning Agency on behalf of the Albanian Investment Corporation, aims to consolidate government services in a new administrative hub, enhancing the functionality and efficiency of public institutions while fostering a deeper connection between citizens and governance.

Isabel Van Haute and Thomas Coldefy, served as jury members at the esteemed Premju Emanuele Luigi Galizia Awards in Malta. 

The Kamra tal-Periti (Chamber of Architects) has revived its awards platform, celebrating architectural excellence five years after its last edition. The Premju Galizia awards honor outstanding contributions to architecture and the built environment, focusing on sustainable practices that enhance social, cultural, and economic growth while minimizing environmental impacts. 

Isabel and Thomas also delivered a lecture on “creating social space [together]“, emphasizing the importance of collaborative spaces that foster community and interaction. But also the relevance of working together, as a team, supported by experts and colleagues.

Coldefy’s Wonder Building in Bagnolet, France, has earned the AIA Continental Europe Design for Discovery award! Part of a network that connects over 2,500 professionals across global chapters, AIA supports and enhances the practice of architecture. This project embodies our commitment to reshaping environments through innovative and sustainable design. 

Join us as Coldefy and Baudoin Lebon present Keiji Uematsu's "Invisible/Visible - Energy" exhibition at Coldefy Studio Paris, from September 27 to November 30, 2024. Open Monday to Friday, from 15h to 18h. Uematsu, a pivotal figure in the post-war Japanese Monoha movement, challenges our perceptions of the physical and invisible world. His art explores natural forces and the essence of materiality, creating a profound dialogue between architecture and space. 

Yesterday morning in Lille, Thomas Coldefy attended a breakfast organized at the Gare Saint Sauveur by Bouygues Construction to present the Archisobre approach, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of a tertiary building by a factor of 3, and its implementation through our Concept Building project in Marseille.

Invited to participate in the event organized by SHARE Architects in Cyprus, Isabel Van Haute presents Coldefy's vision, which places humans and the appropriation of spaces at the center of its approach. In a conference titled "Place Making," she revisits the expression of this vision in projects such as the China Foundation in Paris, the Hong Kong Design Institute, and Oasis, the winner of the 2023 "Architectural Follies" in Montpellier.

Thomas Coldefy & Isabel Van Haute are invited to present tonight, at the NORDBAT trade show in Lille, Coldefy's vision on urban regeneration, or how projects such as the Hong Kong Design Institute, the renovation of the European Parliament in Brussels, the Maroquinerie de la Sormonne, the China Foundation, the Oasis project in Montpellier, and the Marianne administrative city of Lille are at the forefront of sustainable urban renewal.

In collaboration with the baudoin lebon Gallery, Coldefy presents the exhibition Unexpected, by artist Karen Farkas. This collaboration marks the second installment in a series dedicated to exploring the intersections between art and architecture.

For Thomas Coldefy and Isabel Van Haute, "art and architecture share a profound connection; both possess an expressive and communicative essence, whether it be a set of complex ideas or a livable space. They engage the senses and serve as forms of cultural expression of humanity. Our work aims to blur the boundaries between these elements: the exhibition of artists we host contributes to this process." 

Unexpected is an invitation to explore the links and points of contact between these two creative fields that inspire and reinvent each other.

Between raw expressiveness and spiritual quest, Karen Farkas's work delves into materiality and immateriality, the tangible and the transcendent. Her landscapes, paper works, and glass sculptures prompt a reflection on space, color, and light. The artist presents recent works, paintings, oils, and glass sculptures, initiating an unprecedented dialogue with Coldefy's architectural creativity.

Excited to share that Coldefy has been named the 11th top architecture firm in France by Architizer! This recognition highlights our dedication to innovative and sustainable design. A big thank you to our team and partners for their hard work and creativity.

Find out more here.

Work is progressing! A visual journey through the construction site of our flagship project in Shenzhen: the Bao'An Cultural and Artistic Center. A space where art and architecture converge, fostering a strong dialogue between artworks and the public. Its translucent facade, inspired by the natural beauty of marble, will act as a living canvas, reflecting the dynamic interaction between the city, visitors, and art.

Last week, we had the honor of participating in the Vlerick Global Alumni Winter Reunion, and it was an extraordinary experience! Isabel Van Haute had the pleasure of representing our studio at this prestigious gathering by joining the panel discussion on Biospheric Urbanism following Bas Smets' inspiring address. The event, bringing together nearly 200 participants, served as a hub for idea exchange and inspiration. Engaging discussions on the future of cities and shaping them for a more sustainable tomorrow took center stage. Isabel Van Haute's contribution enriched these discussions, embodying Coldefy's commitment to innovation and sustainability in the realms of architecture and urbanism. We extend heartfelt thanks to the Vlerick Business School for orchestrating such a remarkable event and affording us the opportunity to engage in this stimulating dialogue.

We are thrilled to be present at #SIMI2023, thanks to the invitation from #LilleMetropole, where Thomas Coldefy will present the project for the future Administrative City of Lille! Join us at the MEL stand (F15, level 1) tomorrow, Wednesday, December 13, at 11am, to explore this innovative vision for the future of our city. We look forward to meeting you there!

We're delighted to announce the start of work on the Promenades d'Olène project in Reims! On Monday November 13, 2023, the first stone of the program was laid, in the presence of Vautrin Catherine - President of Greater Reims, Arnaud Robinet - Mayor of Reims. We share our enthusiasm with all our partners involved in this beautiful real estate project, which harmoniously combines urbanity, nature and quality of life.

Discover Coldefy's approach to architecture in the latest IDEAT special issue on green architecture. In an interview with Guy-Claude Agboton,Thomas Coldefy and Isabel Van Haute share their pragmatic and humanist vision, emphasizing environmental priorities alongside innovative, comfortable living solutions. This four-page interview offers a deep dive into our commitment to sustainable and bioclimatic architecture. Warm thanks to IDEAT for highlighting our projects and values in harmony with nature. Explore our journey in creating spaces that are not just buildings, but experiences.

We are thankful to Les Echos for featuring the Fondation de Chine, an architectural project that blends innovation with cultural legacy. Designed to house 300 students, it represents architecture that is sensitive to climatic challenges while celebrating the richness of Chinese culture. The article highlights the modern reinterpretation of the 'Tulou' and the building's adaptation to the unique constraints of the Parisian site. To learn more about this project that enriches the heritage of the CIUP, read the article.

Read the article here.

We are proud to have won the AMO 2023 Award alongside Hermès for our Sormonne leather goods project, in the "Most productive place" category. This award recognizes the owner and architect of a project that stands out for its architectural and environmental quality, its responsiveness to the brief, its capacity for innovation and its ability to be appreciated by its occupants. For Sormonne leather goods, we imagined together the future of the production workshop: a large horizontal house in a preserved landscape, revisiting the archetype of the industrial building through a bioclimatic and timeless architecture. This project, with its innovative environmental ambitions, is one of the few low-carbon, positive-energy industrial buildings in France. We are proud of this building, built with a sense of environmental, human and social responsibility, and an aesthetic and sustainable ethic shared with Hermès. Thanks to AMO for this recognition, as well as to our talented teams and all our partners.

We are honored to announce that our studio, in collaboration with our esteemed partners CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and Rimond, has been selected as the winner of the architecture competition for the construction of the France Pavilion for the Osaka World Expo 2025. The design will be officially unveiled in Autumn 2023. We invite you to stay engaged for further updates.

Making beautiful with beautiful! 
On the occasion of the Hermès in the Making exhibition, presented in Lille, at Euratechnologies, from July 8 to 16, 2023, Olivier Fournier, Managing Director of Hermès, Kevin Devis, craftsman at Maroquinerie de la Sormonne, and Thomas Coldefy debated the question of the "sustainable gesture". 
A fascinating conversation, which highlighted three dimensions of sustainability - that of Hermès, that of the architectural gesture and that of the artisanal gesture - and how they meet in the Maroquinerie de la Sormonne project. 

For our winning project at the Pulse Museum & Memorial in Orlando (us), our studio collaborated with artist Xavier Veilhan. This magnificent piece represents these shared values.

Yannick Denis (Valode & Pistre) and Isabel Van Haute, founding partner of Coldefy presented the Cité administrative d'État de Lille to the Préfecture du Nord and the Direction Immobilière de l'État (DIE)

We are proud to announce the delivery of Oïkos: a mixed-use, ambitious and sustainable rehabilitation project for a historic manor house in Wasquehal.
The restoration and wood-frame extension of this iconic manor house in the Lille metropolitan area will house Aventim's head office, as well as coworking, restaurant and hotel spaces.

The new modern building complements the stately manor house, adding a new contemporary touch while preserving its heritage.

Zoltan Neville, partner of Coldefy was presented about Designing Social Spaces at SHARE Hungary.

The presentation was explored how large scale projects are able to foster social connections that are necessary in the future development of our urban areas and present innovation in typological approach, material application and façade systems, as well as collaborative methods. 

Thank you for the opportunity to participate and share our experiences alongside other great speakers!

We were very proud to welcome Edouard Philippe this morning, along with Thierry Bièvre (Chairman of the Elithis Group), Steven Loiseau (Secretary_General of th Elithis Group) and the investor Catella for a visit to the site of our emblematic project for the Elithis Tower in Le Havre, the first positive-energy tower in Normandy!

Elithis Tower, Le Havre, France

The first positive-energy tower in Normandy will be built in Le Havre by Coldefy.

Designed to produce more energy than it consumes, this emblematic 15-storey, 48-metre-high tower will house 74 residential units.
Solar energy production, combined with a highly advanced insulation design, will fully cover the heating, domestic hot water and electricity needs of the occupants, thus meeting the exemplary environmental properties expected by 2050.
It will be a new landmark for the city of Le Havre!

Zoltan Neville partner of Coldefy will be presenting at SHARE Hungary 2023 International Architecture & Technology Innovation Forum. The conference will take place on the 6th of June at the Budapest Music Center and is organised by SHAREarchitects, the largest network dedicated to architecture and construction professionals in Central and South Eastern Europe.

"We should actively work on to fundamentally change the way we think about the architecture profession over the next few generations and redefine our role accordingly"- Zoltan Neville partner of Coldefy.

This year the forum will cover two main topics, Facades: design & technology and large-scale development projects. During the event, guest presenters will provide insights into the technical details of their projects. The aim of the conference is to present the latest innovations in architecture and construction technologies by involving national and international speakers and supporting the creation of professional collaborations. 

For Hermès, Coldefy revisits the archetype of the workshop and reinvents the work environment.

Hermès entrusted us with the design of its second leather goods factory in the Ardennes.
The project is set in an undulating landscape of hedgerows and meadows. Our design included creating a village of artisans within a large horizontal house, whose ‘folded’ design forms a new canopy of wood.
This reference to the house, place of life but also of a family history and its inscription in the surrounding nature, guided the whole conception of the project.
It meets a sensitive and pragmatic approach to architecture that interacts with the environment and respects its identity
The result: a bioclimatic design labeled E4C2, an architectural gesture combining softness, sobriety and technical sophistication and a building that fits sensitively into the surrounding nature and promotes the well-being of the artisan.

The construction work in the new Maillerie neighborhood is advancing on all fronts in which the previously industrial area will be transformed into a new vibrant district. The design concepts of this mixed-use project are to create harmony between the volumes while separating the diverse functions of the building including collective housings, offices, and shops.

Construction of Lake11 residential park is progressing forward. The main structure has topped out on Lots 7 & 8, and is significantly completely on Lot 3. The special connection between nature and the sensation of living in the city simultaneously was the leading concept when designing the Lake11 project. 

Our construction site in Shenzhen is advancing. With the foundations nearing completion, we begin to see the structure of the three legs of the future vertical culture campus rise out of the ground.

Client: Government of Bao’an District, Shenzhen, China
Architects: Coldefy, ECADI

At the MIPIM 2023 in Cannes, Coldefy won the Architectural Folies competition of Montpellier. The winning Oasis project which was inspired by nature is a blend of delicate architectural forms and environmental consciousness. The project will be realized in the Ovalie district to create an extensive program which initiates sustainable links with the rest of the city. 

MIPIM 2023, ARCHI SOBRE conference
Thomas Coldefy, founding partner of Coldefy, will perform during the ARCHI SOBRE conference at MIPIM 2023 real estate fair.
He will introduce our project for the Concept Building, an innovative approach which divides by 3 the carbon footprint of a tertiary building, initiated by Bouygues Construction.
Alongside Albin DARGERY and architects Lucie NINEY, Martin DUPLANTIER and Franck Boutté with Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France teams, Emmanuelle Soufflet, Adrien Sanchez and Claire LECOCQ.

Cannes, Palais des Festivals
From March 14 to 17, Thomas Coldefy and Marc Franco will attend MIPIM, the world's leading real estate market event.

Thomas Coldefy, architect, founding partner
Marc Franco, architect, partner & operations director
look forward to meeting you to discuss our achievements, research and future projects!

Being a woman itself is a superpower. We are proud of our women colleagues!

The floating metal staircase is an exciting complement to the new wooden structure and the natural look that comes with the use of lots of glass.

Client: Aventim
Architect: Coldefy 
Collaborators: Projex , Diagobat, Guillaume Silva

Photos: Jonathan Alexandre

At the occasion of EnerJ-meeting 2023 in Paris, Thomas Coldefy was invited to share EUROPARC collective’s proposal for the renovation project of the European Parliament.

Thank you for the opportunity to participate!

Thomas Coldefy, founding partner of Coldefy, will be speaker as well at Energy and Environmental Efficiency Day organized by EnerJ-meeting Paris. The topic of his speech is about the “Renovation of the European Parliament in Brussels (project by the EUROPARC collective*) and carbon sobriety”.

The Conference will take place on the 9th from 12:20 to 12:40, of February at Palais Brongniart.
More details and registration: https://www.enerj-meeting.com/

*Julien De Smedt Architectes, Coldefy, CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, Ensamble Studio, NL Architects

The concrete structure of Lake11 is being constructed floor by floor.

Client: Atenor
Architects: Coldefy, Demeter Design Stúdió, 5LM

The staircases bridge across the courtyard to create a continuous floating path from the ground to the roof garden, meanwhile the central space becomes a place for exchange between Chinese and French cultures.

Architects: Coldefy, Atelier FCJZ
Collaborators: S2T, Aedis, AVEL ACOUSTIQUE,
Cabinet Vanguard , Le Sommer, BASE

Photo: Mathieu Gangloff

New picture of the construction of Cité Administrative of Lille. The project was designed by Coldefy and Valode & Pistre, and is being carried out by Bouygues Batiment Nord-Est.Client: Préfecture de la région Hauts-de-France et du Nord

Following a competitive process for the Urban Design of 8 hectares of new residential park area called Lake City, Coldefy was selected with Demeter Design Studio and 5LM to develop approximately 275 units of housing with parking, services, and supporting commercial spaces.
The design integrates a series of residential buildings among an existing green area, preserving the human scale and natural qualities of the site. Construction has started and we look forward to sharing the progress.

Client: Atenor
Architects: Coldefy, Demeter Design Stúdió, 5LM

Very proud and honored to announce that Thomas Coldefy, founding partner of Coldefy have been awarded “Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters” by Rima ABDUL MALAK , the French Minister of Culture.

This prestigious French distinction is a great honor as it is also the recognition by France of all the work done by the whole staff of Coldefy to promote French architecture and its influence at an international scale. 

Coldefy’s partner and architect Zoltan Neville will present the Lille based project Echo at World Architecture Festival 2022

See you in Lisbon, November 30 – December 2.


Client of the project Echo: Aventim, ENGIE Solutions Aire Nouvelle
Lead Architect: Coldefy
Collaborators: Projex, Ingébois, VP & Green, Tribu, Coloco, LTA, Aïda

​​Zoltán Neville, Partner Coldefy & Associés Architectes Urbanistes, France focused on “Échelles / Scales” at SHARE Belgrade 2022

The presentation demonstrated through several completed and ongoing projects of diverse scales and types, how Coldefy creates balanced environmental, urban, and social compositions that push the boundaries for cities and life. Zoltán Neville presented some of the projects of the office: Hong Kong Design Institute, Wonderbuilding Office, Fondation de Chine, and Tropicalia.

Thomas Coldefy, founding partner and Zoltan Neville partner of Coldefy will be speakers as well at SHARE Belgrade 2022 International Architecture and Engineering Forum.
The conference will take place on 23rd November at the Metropol Palace Hotel and is organised by SHARE Architects, the largest network dedicated to architecture and construction professionals in Central and South Eastern Europe.
The goal of SHARE Belgrade 2022 is to focus on design and performance for the next generation of facades and their impact in improving public space, as well as to showcase major developments in Serbia and internationally.

Our winning proposal for New EU Parliament Building

The European Parliament announced the international competition to renew the SPAAK
Building in May 2020, with the objectives to set a positive example of sustainable and
regenerative building, and to engage in dialogue with citizens and the city. EUROPARC’s
proposal stood out from the 15 submitted designs, and was officially named the winner of the first prize in July 2022. The jury commended the project for both its functional and symbolic qualities, calling it “... a genuine re-use proposal that offers an enhanced interface with the public and a new architectural expression to the building with useful sustainability features.”

EUROPARC is composed of architectural studios JDSA / Julien De Smedt Architects
(DK/BE), Coldefy (FR), CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati (IT), NL Architects (NL) and Ensamble
Studio (SP), with the support of engineering companies from UTIL (BE) and Ramboll (DK).
Together, these teams account for over 30 different nationalities in their ranks. Its formation emphasizes a new approach to architecture, one that prioritizes collaboration and orchestrates the know-how of different disciplines, instead of relying on individualism and singular decision-making, a common practice in the past century.

Thomas Coldefy, founding partner of Coldefy, will be speaker as well at SHARE Belgrade 2022 International Architecture and Engineering Forum. 

The conference will take place on 23rd November at the Metropol Palace Hotel and is organised by SHARE Architects, the largest network dedicated to architecture and construction professionals in Central and South Eastern Europe.

The goal of SHARE Belgrade 2022 is to focus on design and performance for the next generation of facades and their impact in improving public space, as well as to showcase major developments in Serbia and internationally.

The Balice exhibition marks the commitment from Zuecca and Coldefy to engage a long term dialogue between Art and Architecture as a meaningful process of understanding the ever changing interpretation of the environment we live in. Following the Tropicalia exhibition at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, and the Balice exhibition at Coldefy Paris studio, the collaboration will produce exhibitions, talks, essays and architectural explorations.
The fields of Art and Architecture have a deep connection, as they have a simultaneously expressive and communicative meaning. Whether regarding a set of complex ideas or an inhabitable space, they both engage the senses and remain key forms of cultural expression for mankind.
Thomas Coldefy & Alessandro Possati

Corrugated and angular surfaces of the synthesis of French and Chinese cultures.

Client: Cité internationale universitaire de Paris
Lead Architect: Coldefy
Associate Architect: Atelier FCJZ
Collaborators: S2T, AEDIS, Avel Acoustique,
Cabinet Vanguard, Le Sommer, BASE

The construction work is advancing on all fronts for the new Cité Administrative of Lille. Look forward to see how the southern sector of the city will be revived.

The project was designed by Coldefy and Valode & Pistre, and is being carried out by Bouygues Bâtiment Nord-Est.

Client: Préfecture du Nord

Le Manoir, Wasquehal, France
The wooden structure for the new wing of the iconic Manor of Wasquehal is nearing completion. The new modern building complements the stately manor house, adding a new contemporary touch while preserving its heritage.

Client: Atenor
Architects: Coldefy
Collaborators: Projex, Diagobat, Groupe Kardham

In Budapest's 11th district, the construction of our design for an ensemble of buildings is underway. Designed with diversity of living in mind, the project weaves architecture and nature together in a sustainable way. 
Geothermal energy will providing all heating and hot water for the entire project, an efficient and economic solution for all future residents.

Client: Atenor
Architects: Coldefy, Demeter Design Studio, 5LM
Landscape: Urban Concept Budapest

Meet us on the 15th of October at LMH Rives de la Haute-Deûle résidence. Isabel Van Haute, one of the founders of Coldefy, will take a fascinating tour on the architectural challenges of housing construction today, and on the specific work that has been carried out for this housing estate in an exceptional location, on the banks of the Haute-Deûle.

Wonder Building, Bagnolet, France
The long glazed façade with horizontal lines and diagonals follows the peripheral boulevard and creates a new urban signal for the Porte de Bagnolet as much as it shields against the nuisance of the boulevard for its employees and the inhabitants of Bagnolet. 

Lead Architect: ColdefyCollaborators: Bollinger+Grohmann, Sylvain Maury , BASE, Projex, Lamoureux & Ricciotti, ARP Astrance, DAL, Spooms, Studio B&B, Bouygues Construction, Builders & Partners

Thomas Coldefy and Isabel Van Haute, founders of Coldefy, gave a lecture on the role of the void in architecture at the LifeCycles Festival (29 September 2022, Ghent) Thanks to the organizers for the invitation!

We are happy to announce the groundbreaking of Lake11, in Budapest’s 11th District.
Following a competitive process for the Urban Design of 8 hectares of new residential park area called Lake City, Coldefy was selected with Demeter Design Studio and 5LM to develop approximately 175 units of housing with parking, services, and supporting commercial spaces.
The design integrates a series of residential buildings among an existing green area, preserving the human scale and natural qualities of the site.

Coldefy has been selected winner of the competition for the construction of over 50 units of individual, intermediary, and collective housing units in Amiens ZAC Renancourt. Primarily driven by the desire to integrate the development into the landscape, the project is organized around landscaped areas with dedicated private and collective exterior spaces, encouraging connection with the exterior as well as between residents of the community.

Coldefy has been selected winner of the competition for the construction of a new Parking structure in Saclay, France. Located at the entrance of ZAC Corbeville urban development area, the parking structure has the opportunity to signal the entrance to the area, as well as connect with the green corridor via an integrated garden, all the while proposing a pure architectural language that dialogues with the neighborhood. The project was developed with Gagne Park engineers for Indigo.

Our Project Parenthèse in Marc-en-Baroeul has been selected among the 20 winners for remarkable projects and initiatives in real estate. The project is developed by Aire Nouvel / Aventim, aiming to bring life to a district through the creation of a new sustainable office building on strategic triangular site just outside of Lille.

We are proud to announce that JDSA / Julien De Smedt Architects (DK), Coldefy (FR), CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati (IT), NL Architects (NL) and Ensamble Studio (SP) have formed a collective of united European architects and won the First Prize of the international competition to design a new European Parliament building in Brussels. Stay tuned for more details!

We are honored to be included among the worldarchfest 2022 Shortlist. We will present our Lille based project Echo at WAF2022 - see you in Lisbon, November 30 - December 2.

We are happy to announce the groundbreaking of Paul Duez Secondary School in Cambrai, France, that celebrates the well-being necessary for learning and for the development of life. It will be the first one to be built in wood in the North of France. Thus, the building’s primary purpose is to ensure the comfort of users, quality of life, respect for the environment, economic and performance.

On June 29th, Thomas Coldefy took part in the CARPARK FUTURES COMPETITION Roundtable and Prize-giving ceremony organized by DPA-X and Indigo Group. Joined by Dominique Perrault, Architect and Urbanist, Serge Clemente, President of Indigo, and many others, the competition and event, held at Tripostal Lille, aims to encourage the emergence of innovative solutions linked to the architectural, urban, environmental and technical potential of an upgraded underground car park.

Our evolving global context imposes many changes in terms of the transformation of life in the city and the consumption of our fragile resources. Culminating at 48 meters high in this changing port district, the Elithis Le Havre tower, that will composed by 74 housing units, is a new positive energy lighthouse that re-interprets our relationship with housing in the form of an evolving and productive vertical building. The multiple places of life and interactions on the ground as well as in the sky are in contact with the elements and the senses, the vegetal patio around which the project is organized offers a break, a new balance allowing nature and its inhabitants to coexist in the city.

Thomas Coldefy and Marc Franco will be representing the studio at MIPIM World 2022 in Cannes from March 15-18. Get in touch with us at communication@coldefy.fr, we look forward to meeting with you.

The New Cité Administrative of Lille has broken ground this week! It is intended to revitalize the southern sector of the city with an innovative and virtuous architecture. The project was designed by Valode & Pistre and Coldefy, and is being carried out by Bouygues Bâtiment Nord-Est.

Coldefy is exhibiting during the Chicago Biennial of Architecture. Opening night with a panel about sensitive architecture,or architecture sensible, and the relationship between building and memory, as seen in the National Pulse Memorial & Museum in Orlando. Exhibition about the creative process behind Coldefy's work, until December 5th, at the Alliance Française.

Thomas Coldefy and Alessandro Possati, moderators of the talk Tropicalia and Building for a Sustainable Future, an event held in Venice, during the exhibition Tropicalia – Architecture, Materials, Innovative Systems, Collateral Event of the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale. Architects, engineers and project developers were invited to discuss pertinent issues of designing and building for today and tomorrow from their respective perspectives. Speakers: Cedric Guerin, Tropicalia; Philip Wilson, Eckersley O’Callaghan; Morgane Scoarnec, Novaxia; Thierry Bievre & Alan Kirsch, Elithis; Oliver Schütte, A-01 (A Company / A Foundation)

Listen to Thomas Coldefy in the All Good Vibes podcast by Floornature.com! Thomas shares with us his rich experience abroad, and his begin with the construction of the Hong Kong Design Institute, followed by a series of important assignments from Bao’an Artistic and Cultural Center in Shenzhen, the innovative offices Wonder Building, Fondation de Chine in Paris, the future giant greenhouse Tropicalia, currently exhibited at the International Architecture Venice Biennale, requalification and renovation of the industrial buildings Rigot-Stalars and Peugeot Garage to the recent selected proposal for The National Pulse Memorial & Museum in Orlando, Florida.

Coldefy is proud to announce the expansion of our leadership team with three new partners. With the appointment of Simon Ducreu, Marc Franco, and Zoltán Neville as Partner Architects, we broaden our leadership, reinforcing our expertise and ability to design and manage high-quality, complex projects in France and internationally. Founding partners Thomas Coldefy and Isabel Van Haute are pleased to formally acknowledge this group’s leadership and talent, as well as the significance of their contributions to the steady growth and the future of the firm.

We are proud to announce Coldefy - Residence G, North of France has received a Prize from the Chicago Athenaeum's European Centre in the International Architecture Awards in the PRIVATE HOUSES category. An exhibition of the award winners is on display: from 10 September to 6 October 2021 The European Centre Athens, Mitropoleos 74, Athens

Zoltán Neville has the privilege to be a part of the jury of the Budapest Architecture Excellence Award, organized by the Municipality of Budapest and the Budapest Chamber of Architects. This prestigious award recognizes architectural solutions that increase the liveability of Hungary’s only metropolis in the face of the increasing challenges of urban life, highlighting outstanding quality and setting an example via their recognition.

This past month we were thankful to finally be able to regroup much of our French teams in person for the first time in over a year! Our summer party was held in our recently delivered GARAGE on Boulevard Carnot in Lille, where we presented new projects, shared exciting news, and enjoyed each other's company in person before the summer holidays.

On 27 July 12-12.45 (Paris time), Thomas Coldefy and Isabel Van Haute are giving a webinar on the Fondation de Chine at the Cité Internationale universitaire de Paris de Paris. Actually under construction, the future student residency, designed by Coldefy and FCJZ, will be delivered in 2023. Subscription here.

The junior high school Paul Duez in Cambrai, France, supported by Ramery and designed by Coldefy (together with Ramery), winner of the competition launched by the Department du Nord! It will be the first "wood junior high school" and the first to be certified HQE Environmental Building in the North of France. Its morphology is inspired by the old railway hall nearby, which will be rehabilitated and transformed into a sports hall. A strong emphasis will be placed on the landscaped area, which will play a major role in the school's identity, and it will greatly contribute to the users's well-being.

We are pleased to invite you to visite "Tropicalia - Architecture, Materials, Innovative Systems", Collateral Event of the Biennale Archittettura 2021, curated by Thomas Coldefy and Alessandro Possati. At Squero Castello, Salizada Streta 368, Venice. From May 22 to November 21, 2021. More details here.

Isabel Van Haute has the privilege to be part of the jury of the GRAND PRIX AFEX 2021. This award, organized by AFEX (the French Architects Overseas) rewards every second year a remarkable work delivered abroad by a French architects. The palmares of projects and the winning one will be unveiled at the Venice architecture Biennale on May 20.

Coldefy winner of the residential quartier Les Promenades d’Olène in Reims, France Designed during the sanitary crisis and its confinement in March 2020, the Promenades d'Olène urban plots integrates the societal expectations of health and well-being in the city born during this particular period, such as larger housing, convivial extra spaces and a landscaped approach. All the accommodation benefits from large loggias, vegetated terraces or private rooftop gardens covered with soil and plants. The urban plots offer a new metropolitan centrality for a “composite”, welcoming, lively and sustainable city. They are designed for different scales of life and different ways of living in order to offer the best living environment. Program: 107 residences, shops, library, association premises.

Thomas Coldefy is very happy to be invited to teach students in Master's degree at École Spéciale d'Architecture Paris (www.esa-paris.fr) during this spring semester. He will support them in the development of their projects in a professional and operational manner.

Coldefy is proud to be composed of over 50% women, holding both staff and leadership positions within all our departments, including one of the two founding partners. They are all creative, smart, talented and a fundamental part of our team. Let's continue to fight for equality.

In @thegoodlife_mag #47 focused on France’s highlights all over the world, the Hong Kong Design Institute has been ranked among the 10 icons of French architecture beyond our borders!

Coldefy is currently designing the Inzovu Mall in Kigali, Rwanda. Gently perched on a sloping site in the Kimihurura District, the location boasts views over the lush hills and valleys of the city of Kigali, as well as the emblematic dome of the Kigali Conference Center (KCC). Containing an open-air retail center, hotel, offices, conference center, and leisure programs, it will be the first of its kind in Rwanda, creating a synergy with the activity of KCC that attracts international and local visitors. It is expected to break ground in coming months.

Located between two major architectural buildings, Lille Grand Palais and the Cité Administrative, interfacing with the railways, the 2,000 m² of the 10.9 plot is at the heart of important issues for the life of the business district and its animation. The Euralille district bears witness to its vitality and begins a new era, focused on the low-carbon city and landscape metamorphosis. The project is developing 8,000 m² of SDP, nearly 40% of which will be devoted to hosting a predominantly catering and leisure program, in the form of a large climbing room. The office program will host the flex office brand Newton Offices.

The Sébastopol-Booking.com nominee for the Archdaily Building of the Year Awards in the office category! the booking.com building is an all-concrete, triangular office building – four levels built around a central courtyard, linked to one another with monumental active stairs, visible to the outside world as a continuous glass ribbon that wraps around the building. It is a dynamo for an active city center that meet its metropolitan vision with the welcome of the international company Booking.com. until 10 February 2021, vote for the building HERE.

Verification of facade prototypes of the window framing and brickwork for the South facade of the Fondation de Chine.Located in the south of Paris between Parc Montsouris and the ring road, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (CIUP) hosts nearly 12,000 students, researchers, artists and top athletes from around the world. With the Fondation de Chine, the CIUP is continuing its great tradition of hosting national residences. Coldefy, in collaboration with Atelier FCJZ, designed a building that is a synthesis of French and Chinese cultures, with its architecture reflecting the sensitivity of both cultures that only an agency with a presence in both France and China could have. It will host 300 students bedrooms, a multipurpose room (capacity 300 people), 3 music rooms, a student hostel and accessible green roofs.

Congratulations to Chef Mathieu Boutroy of the restaurant Le Cerisier and his team, who received a star in the Michelin Guide 2021!

“On the first floor of an ultra-contemporary building in the heart of Lille, the former chef of Meurin, Mathieu Boutroy, is active in a superb open kitchen."

Coldefy wishes you a fresh, dynamic, loving, human and inspiring new year.

WIRED magazine showcases Tropicalia among the best nature-inspired architecture 2021! "As sustainability and environmental issues start to assume a greater role in the considerations of architects and developers, it appears the age of the megabuilding may finally be over. Taking their place in 2021 are new, biophilic structures – from a school in India to an aquarium in Mexico and a hotel on a glacier – which incorporate elements of the natural world into their architecture, from sympathetic materials and forms to forging direct connections with their surrounding environments."

Thanks to Geoffroy Deffrennes for his great portrait of Thomas Coldefy and Isabel Van Haute. They are presented together with 9 artists from Lille (namely Mimi le Clown, Norman Dilworth and Julien Gosselin) in the cultural guide dedicated to the contemporary creation in Lille and North of France. The book written in French and published by the Editions Ateliers Henry Dougier is called Lille et Villes du Nord au Coeur de la Création Contemporaine, 10 artistes + 100 lieux.

Garage is a rehabilitated Peugeot car garage of the 1940’s transformed into a unique "third place" dedicated to retail and innovation in the heart of Lille. Its folding facade, a technical and architectural achievement, is stimulating the public space. Coldefy challenges the limit between public and private spaces. Delivery soon.

On September 22, Thomas Coldefy took part in a virtual panel discussion organized by Delta Light with Konrad Buhagiar, executive director of AP Valletta, and Pippo Ciorra, principal curator of Museo Maxxi in Rome. This was part of a series of round tables dedicated to the conception of the future, this one is focused on culture. Architecture simultaneously reflects and influences culture. All over the world, cultural buildings are landmarks for cities and countries, adding value to the experience of art and creating context for individuals and societies. With the evolution of art, cities and audiences, what will be the role and how will we design our cultural buildings in the future? How can museums and galleries be flexible to accommodate different styles of exhibitions? Listen to the roundtable here.

On 14 November and now online, watch the online talk «We Will Not Let Hate Win» organized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Thomas Coldefy and Zoltán Neville, Director of Design & International Development, present the National Pulse Memorial & Museum of Orlando, a project won by a multidisciplinary team led by Coldefy. They explain how the approach of the project is an opportunity to catalyse the change through architecture and urban design, in honor to the victims of the tragedy of the Pulse night club four years ago.

Garage is an architectural innovation in Lille city center. It is a unique place capable of transforming its original 3,800 m² to reinvent them and shake them up according to events, needs or encounters, until converting them into 6,500 m² of retail and innovation experience. Vozer, thanks for your article!

Follow here the lecture of Zhuo Wang Rolland, Dir. Asia at Coldefy, given at the occasion of the "Art, Space and Innovation Week" at the Beijing Institute of Technology on 7 December 2020. She describes the process through actual engineering cases, how the project members implement the concept, the communication process, the game between ideals and reality for the realization of cultural architectural projects.

On November 27th, and still on-line, listen to Thomas Coldefy 's presentation “Context Matters” for the ZAK Virtual Festival of Façades 2020.

a world-class jury selected the proposal of Coldefy as finalist among high quality competitors for the International Performing Art Center in Shenzhen! our project proposes an innovative and flexible performing arts center characterized by three sweeping roofs, providing a new public place that responds to both the cultural tradition and innovative spirit of Shenzhen.

Listen to the interview (in French) of Thomas Coldefy and Isabel Van Haute for the radio show Com d'Archi Podcast by Anne-Charlotte Depondt: they present their story and the one of the office Coldefy and conclued with a short presentation of the Pulse Memorial & Museum of Orlando. This short presentation is also available in English here.

The proposal of Coldefy with Valode & Pistre for the design of the Xi’an International Football Center, was finalist. The requirement was the design of a stadium for Asia Games 2023, with a masterplan and accompanying programs that complete a new CBD axis in the western district of Xi’an.our proposal balances needs of a new stadium with the future needs of a community, aiming to create a vibrant district that can thrive 24hours a day and 365 days a year, long after the Asia Games are over.

Find here the contribution of Thomas Coldefy "La Nouvelle Normalité" ("The New Normality") in the book "Et demain, on fait quoi? 198 contributions pour penser la ville " ("And tomoroww, what will we do? 198 contributions to think the city") published by the Pavillon de l'Arsenal, the center of urban planning and architecture of Paris.