Le Penhuel et Associés - exploring possibilities

There are architecture firms that, over time, settle into a certain reassuring monotony, and others that never cease to renew themselves. Le Penhuel & Associés belongs to the latter. In each context, the practice looks towards new horizons, seeks out unfamiliar fields of exploration, creates alternatives and, in short, explores every possibility.

Since its recognition in 1994 as the winner of the EUROPAN 3 competition, “At Home in the City”, the architecture practice based at 23 Rue de Cléry in Paris's 2nd arrondissement has come a long way. Remaining true to its principles throughout, it has moved through the decades guided by a single conviction: to make architecture.

This is not about developing a distinctive signature that stands out among all others, but rather about a profound reflection on the act of building itself. To each context its own architecture; to each situation its own response; and to each response its share of innovation.

The practice's portfolio encompasses a broad range of projects across diverse sectors, including education, housing, offices, cultural, sports and healthcare facilities, as well as urban developments on a much larger scale. Yet each project possesses that subtle quality which sets it apart, for Le Penhuel & Associés is among those architecture firms that have never abandoned creativity. On the contrary, creativity lies at the heart of every project undertaken by the practice.

Let us take a closer look at some of the agency's projects.

Innovative Educational Nursery School in Bonneuil-sur-Marne

The twelve-class nursery school project in Bonneuil-sur-Marne further anchors the practice's work and research in a strong commitment to the adaptability of educational facilities. On this occasion, the architects opted for a timber structure combined with load-bearing brickwork, 50% of which is reclaimed brick.

Behind its mineral and rigorous appearance lies a clear intention to approach things differently. Pupils will no doubt delight in discovering the bespoke integrated furniture, both indoors and outdoors. The project is designed to achieve the HQE Bâtiment BDF certification.

The programme itself is relatively conventional; yet through a series of considered interventions, the architects have succeeded in transforming it into an innovative educational environment.

A Mixed-Use Development in Dunkirk

In Dunkirk, Le Penhuel & Associés have designed a development comprising 56 apartment units, a hotel, commercial premises and an underground car park. Located within the Grand Large development zone (ZAC), the project forms part of a broader initiative aimed at revitalising this part of the city.

Transforming a former maritime brownfield site into a new urban district centred on a completely redeveloped waterfront is, however, no simple task. Le Penhuel & Associés leaves its mark on the project through the design of an active ground floor that maintains a strong connection with the surrounding city.

Once completed, the scheme, which is targeting HQE and RE2020 standards, promises to make a significant contribution to the area's ongoing transformation.

College and Sports Facilities in Osny

In Osny, Le Penhuel & Associés has delivered a secondary school distinguished by its innovative approach. Combining several materials, including low-carbon concrete and timber, the scheme provides users with a variety of bright and welcoming spaces.

The programme is straightforward, the construction refined, the envelope minimalist, and the landscaped outdoor areas generous, notably through the extensive use of planted roof terraces. The project reflects the département's commitment to sustainable development and has been awarded HQE certification as well as the E3C2 label.

A particular highlight is the spacious entrance hall, which unfolds across three levels.

Sports Complex in Pontoise

Conceived as a multi-purpose facility, the Pontoise sports complex brings together a range of thoughtful design strategies. The two volumes, connected by a shared plinth, accommodate a wide variety of sporting activities while also providing a venue for public events and gatherings. As part of their approach, the architects reused stone from the site's former boundary wall, incorporated a timber structure, and made use of hemp concrete. Every aspect of the project was carefully considered, resulting in a coherent and accomplished whole. The project meets the requirements of the HQE and RE2020 standards.

Passage Saint-Pierre Amelot, Paris

Winner of the HLM Innovation Awards, the Architectural and Low-Carbon Innovation Prize, and the 2017 "Réinventer les dessous de Paris" competition, the Passage Saint-Pierre Amelot project involves the conversion of a former garage into housing, while integrating a range of complementary uses, including a nursery, co-working spaces, a climbing gym and retail units, alongside 1,000 m² dedicated to urban agriculture.

The project offers an opportunity to preserve as much of the existing built fabric as possible, revealing its material qualities while reinterpreting the character of the Parisian faubourg. It is an exercise in adaptive reuse that balances heritage conservation with contemporary needs, requiring both technical expertise and architectural sensitivity. The scheme aligns with the City of Paris Climate Plan and has achieved E3C2, Bio-based Materials, Circular Economy, BBCA and Timber Construction certifications and labels.

Innovative School Campus and Shared Sports Hall in Tremblay-en-France

The innovative school campus project extends the practice's ongoing reflection on educational facilities and learning environments. Following the publication in 2024 of ABC, a Handbook of Good Practices for Designing and Building the Schools of the Future, Le Penhuel & Associés has developed in Tremblay-en-France a series of innovative solutions that offer practical responses to the design of educational spaces centred on the needs of their users.

Rather than relying on a single transformative gesture, the project is shaped by a collection of small yet significant interventions integrated throughout the programme. Through these incremental ideas, a new model for the learning environment begins to emerge. The practice's research suggests that spaces designed to support alternative approaches to teaching could become the norm rather than the exception.

This vision was recognised with the prestigious Équerre d'Argent 2025 award. It was further explored in the exhibition Faire École, presented in May 2026 at La Galerie d'Architecture in Paris, where the architects showcased the various strands of their ongoing research.

For Le Penhuel & Associés, educational spaces must evolve alongside the world around them. Such change may be gradual, but it is no less necessary for that. In this respect, the theme of ARCHITECT@WORK Paris 2026, ExplorA(c)tion, resonates strongly with the work of the practice, whose projects are driven by a continuous exploration of new possibilities.