Emmanuelle Andreani Architectes reimagining architecture through collaboration

Emmanuelle Andreani Architectes named Firm of the Year in the Architecture Multi-disciplinary category at the Architecture MasterPrize 2025, has built its reputation on an approach that seamlessly connects architecture, urban planning, and landscape design.

Founded by Emmanuelle Andreani, the Lyon-based practice works across diverse scales and contexts, creating projects that place people, sustainability, and innovation at their core. Emmanuelle Andreani shares insight into the firm’s collaborative philosophy, commitment to environmental responsibility, and the ideas that continue to drive its evolving architectural vision.

Could you share some background about yourself or your practice?

Emmanuelle Andreani: I was born in Lyon in 1968 and graduated as valedictorian from ENSAIS in 1993. I was honored with the Best Diploma in France, the First Prize from the Academy of Architecture, the Robert Camelot First Prize, and the First Prize from the Mutual Insurance of French Architects (MAF), becoming the first woman to receive these distinctions and the first person to hold all three simultaneously. I also hold a postgraduate degree (DEA) in Gardens, Landscapes, and Territories.

Alongside my practice, I teach urban design and architectural theory at INSA Strasbourg and at the French University of Egypt in Cairo. Since 2019, I have also served as a judicial expert at the Lyon Court of Appeal.

The agency, founded in 1998 in Paris under the name [siz’-ix] architectes and officially renamed Emmanuelle Andreani Architectes in 2023, has been based in Lyon since 2008. Today, the studio brings together eleven collaborators across Lyon, Paris, Meursault, and Ajaccio. Each member contributes a diverse set of skills that enriches our architectural vision and allows us to approach every scale and discipline of architecture through a multidisciplinary lens.

What was the brief behind being named Firm of the Year?

Emmanuelle Andreani: This recognition allowed us to showcase the diversity and expertise of our practice, which extends from national and international urban studies to the design, extension, and renovation of public facilities, as well as collective housing, grouped individual dwellings, and office and tertiary developments.

Our body of work was evaluated on three key aspects.

The first is design excellence. We see architecture as the intersection of art and function. Early in our process, we experiment with geometry, materials, and colours inspired by context to establish a strong and engaging concept. Technical considerations then follow to ensure the practical operation of the building. At every stage, the user remains at the centre of our process, both through the experience of interior spaces and the perception of architecture in the public realm.

The second is innovation and contribution. Our dedication to form, materiality, and technical expression reflects our understanding of architecture as a relational form that is deeply embedded in and responsive to its environment. We constantly question how new methods and technologies can strengthen our environmentally conscious approach.

The third is expertise. We see architecture and urban design as fields for collaborative experimentation, integrating social, political, economic, and technical dimensions at every stage. This commitment is reflected in the environmental certifications our projects achieve and the national and international recognition the studio continues to receive.

Please describe your design process and how you approach your work.

Emmanuelle Andreani: Our studio brings together a young and dynamic team of eleven collaborators. While modest in size, we are united by a shared commitment to thoughtful, context-driven architecture and by the opportunity to work closely together on every aspect of our projects, from concept to completion.

This small-scale structure fosters a deeply collaborative environment where each team member remains actively engaged throughout the design and construction process. It enables a hands-on approach that allows us to maintain continuity, precision, and a strong architectural vision across all phases of a project.

We are proudly international, both in our team and in the nature of our work. Our collaborators come from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds, bringing unique perspectives that enrich our design approach. Likewise, our clients and partners span borders, and we work on projects of various scales throughout France and beyond. This international dimension contributes to our adaptability, open-mindedness, and curiosity, qualities we believe are essential to architecture today.

Our work is rooted in a multidisciplinary methodology that blends architecture with urban planning, landscape design, and environmental strategy. The studio thrives on collective intelligence, with each project becoming a platform for exchange, experimentation, and shared growth.

What do you consider the most distinctive or innovative aspect of your practice?

Emmanuelle Andreani: We approach architecture and urban design as experimental grounds for collaborative expertise, combining intellectual, practical, and mediatory knowledge to bring meaningful projects to life. This interdisciplinary process allows us to integrate social, political, and technical dimensions of sustainable development at every stage alongside environmental professionals.

In recent years, our practice has expanded to specialize in urban-scale circular economy, renewable energy integration, and innovative urban development strategies, reinforcing our commitment to environmentally responsible architecture.

Across all our projects, materials are carefully selected for their environmental performance, with a strong emphasis on local sourcing to minimize transportation emissions and highlight the identity of each site. We integrate rainwater harvesting and eco-management systems, often supported by vegetation at ground level and on rooftops. Many projects also include solar panel installations, demonstrating our commitment to renewable energy and long-term sustainability.

Our efforts are reflected in environmental certifications such as the E+C- label, the Bâtiment Biosourcé label, and the BiodiverCity label. These recognitions reinforce our belief that architecture can and must play a central role in building a resilient and sustainable future.

What does receiving the Architecture MasterPrize Firm of the Year award mean to you?

Emmanuelle Andreani: Receiving the MasterPrize Firm of the Year award has had a meaningful impact not only on our team and collaborators but also on the projects that lie ahead. It affirms that our collaborative processes and multidisciplinary approach are both distinctive and effective, and it strengthens our commitment to continue delivering architecture of the highest quality.

We will continue to question economic models, technical possibilities, and social impact while exploring how the way we build can contribute to a more sustainable future that balances innovation, responsibility, and human experience.

Our field continues to hold an essential place in an ever-changing world. We remain dedicated to bridging the old and the new, both aesthetically and functionally, while placing the user at the centre of our design. We believe architecture must respond to the past, the present, and the future, as together they shape and define our daily lives.

We thank Emmanuelle Andreani of Emmanuelle Andreani Architectes for sharing the story behind the practice’s recognition as Firm of the Year in the Architecture Multi-disciplinary category at the Architecture MasterPrize 2025. Through a multidisciplinary approach that brings together architecture, urbanism, and landscape design, the studio continues to showcase how collaboration, innovation, and environmental stewardship can shape the future of the built environment.