Mei Architects

What Mei Architects does

Mei Architects is a Paris-based multidisciplinary architecture studio founded by Italian architect and designer Ornella Mei. The firm operates from 51 Boulevard Saint-Michel in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district and serves high-end residential clients in the Île-de-France region alongside cultural-institution clients in Brussels, Belgium. Its offering spans four integrated service lines: architecture (construction and renovation, including historic Haussmannian buildings), design (bespoke furniture and interior accessories such as the Wasserfall console and L01–L03 light fixtures), scenography (exhibition space design for institutions such as Musée Mode & Dentelle de Bruxelles and the Les Passagées 'Maison de création'), and light installations (in collaboration with international artists including Keiichi Tahara and Radiance 35). The studio positions its multidisciplinary, transversal approach — managing projects from construction through to furniture specification — as its core differentiator.

The business model is project-based and fee-for-service, with pricing not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market relies on portfolio visibility through the meiarchitects.net website, an Instagram presence (@ornella_meiarchitects), and earned media coverage in design publications including Elle Decoration, Marie Claire, and Maison & Jardin. Distribution is direct: prospective clients initiate contact via the website or email. The firm is privately held, bootstrapped, and founder-led, with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or institutional investors. Operating geographies are limited to France (Île-de-France) and Brussels, and the firm has 1–10 employees, consistent with a boutique architecture studio. The studio received the 2024 Dubai International Award for Best Practices in Sustainable Development, signaling a sustainability-oriented positioning shift.

Name

Mei Architects

Legal name

Mei Architects

Website

https://meiarchitects.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mei Architects is a Paris-based multidisciplinary architecture studio founded by Ornella Mei, offering architecture, scenography, bespoke furniture design, and light installations for high-end residential and cultural-institution clients across France and Belgium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Residential renovation
• Interior design
• Exhibition scenography
• Furniture design

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Mei Architects is a Paris-based multidisciplinary architecture studio that delivers full-scope architectural, interior, furniture, scenography, and light-installation design services. The studio manages projects from initial construction and renovation through to furniture specification and exhibition design, integrating new technologies across scales for residential and cultural clients.

Product overview

Mei Architects is a Paris-based multidisciplinary architecture studio offering a comprehensive portfolio of services: architecture (construction and renovation of residential and commercial spaces), design (furniture and interior accessories), scenography (exhibition space design for cultural institutions), and light installations (in collaboration with international artists). The studio manages projects at every scale, from initial construction through furniture specification, integrating new technologies for environmental benefit. The service offering operates as a unified practice rather than separate product lines, with expertise spanning Rue Cabanel residential projects, Kantkamer Musée Mode & Dentelle scenography, Wasserfall furniture collection, and urban installations like Echos de lumière.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-service architectural design covering construction projects from inception through completion, including restructuring and transformation of residential and commercial spaces. Targeted at residential property owners and cultural institutions.
• Residential Renovation Construction and renovation of residences, including historic Haussmannian buildings, with integration of domotics and new technologies. Targeted at individual property owners.
• Scenography Exhibition space design and scenography for cultural institutions, including projects for Musée Mode & Dentelle de Bruxelles and Les Passagées. Targeted at museums and cultural collectives.
• Design (Furniture and Accessories) Furniture design and interior accessory design, including bespoke pieces such as the Wasserfall console, light fixtures (L01, L02, L03), and other furniture items. Targeted at design-conscious residential and commercial clients.
• Light Installations Light design projects, including solo work and collaborations with international artists such as Keiichi Tahara and Radiance 35 from Liège. Targeted at cultural institutions and artistic collectives.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Les Passagées CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration within the 'Les Passagées' collective for the design of an interdisciplinary artistic space called 'Maison de création' in Brussels. This is a multiform and multitask space that enables analysis and reflection on artistic works through other art forms such as dance and gastronomy.
• Keiichi TaharaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Japanese artist Keiichi Tahara on light installations, both solo and with international artists and companies.
• Radiance 35 (Liège)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Radiance 35 from Liège on light-related projects and artistic installations.
• Musée de la Dentelle de BruxellescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibition space scenography collaboration with Musée de la Dentelle (Mode & Dentelle) in Brussels, including the Kantkamer project.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Joseph Dirand Architecture: Paris-based studio specializing in high-end residential architecture, interiors, and furniture, serving HNW clients globally. Closely comparable to Mei Architects on luxury Parisian residential positioning, multidisciplinary scope, and product-to-interior integration.
• Gilles & Boissier: Paris-based husband-and-wife duo delivering architecture, interior design, and furniture for luxury hotels, residences, and boutiques. Comparable to Mei on founder-led boutique model, luxury clientele, and integration of architecture with furniture and product design.
• Studio KO: Paris-based multidisciplinary architecture and design studio founded by Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty, active in residential, hospitality, and cultural projects. Directly comparable boutique architecture practice with a similar multidisciplinary, sustainability-oriented profile.
• Vincent Van Duysen: Belgian architect and designer with a practice spanning residential architecture, interiors, and product design (including for Molteni). Comparable on cross-cultural (Belgian/European) design positioning, integration of architecture with furniture lines, and luxury residential client base.
• Pierre-Yves Rochon: Paris-based interior architecture studio known for luxury hotel and high-end residential projects. Comparable on Paris luxury positioning, residential and hospitality overlap, and founder-led boutique operating model.
• Tristan Auer Interiors: Paris-based interior designer working on luxury residential, hotel, and yacht projects. Comparable on Paris luxury residential focus, cross-disciplinary (interior + furniture) work, and HNW client base.
• Studio Mumbai: Multidisciplinary architecture and design studio working across scales from architecture to furniture and craft. Comparable on multidisciplinary scope, founder-led vision, integration of traditional craft with contemporary design, and cultural-institution work.
• India Mahdavi: Paris-based architect and designer known for colorful residential, hospitality, and retail interiors. Comparable on Paris boutique architecture practice, founder-led profile, residential and cultural client mix, and integration of furniture/product design into project work.

Broad incumbents

• RDAI (Rena Dumas Architecture Intérieure): Paris-based architecture and interior design firm (affiliated with Hermès) working on luxury retail, residential, and institutional projects. Comparable on Paris luxury positioning and interior architecture focus; broader in scale and backed by a luxury parent.
• Wilmotte & Associés: Larger French architecture practice with a portfolio spanning cultural, residential, and commercial projects. Comparable on French architectural identity and cultural-institution work; significantly larger and broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/ornella_meiarchitects
• Facebookfacebook.com/MEIARCHITECTS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mei-architects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mei Architects