amàco

What amàco does

amàco (legal name: amàco – atelier matières à construire) is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in 2012 and headquartered at Les Grands Ateliers in Villefontaine, near Lyon. The organization supports construction, architecture, and design professionals through education and applied research focused on natural building materials, specifically raw earth (terre crue) and plant fibers (fibres végétales). It was established by a consortium of nine founding institutional partners, including leading French academic and research bodies such as ENSA Grenoble, INSA Lyon, ESPCI Paris, CRAterre, GAIA, and AECC.

amàco operates across five activity lines. (1) Bureau d'études terre crue delivers engineering studies, material formulation, project assistance, and execution support for raw earth construction projects (including pisé, adobe, compressed earth blocks, and cast earth). (2) Formations provides certified continuing and initial professional training — over 20 catalog courses — at €1,500 net VAT per participant for a 3-day program, with capacity of roughly 16 participants per session. (3) Design & Architecture creates material effects and construction systems for contemporary design projects. (4) Ateliers & Expositions runs awareness workshops and exhibitions for professionals and the public. (5) Matériel Pédagogique develops and sells educational kits (science kits, technical kits, scale-1 prototypes). Supporting digital assets include the RESSOURCES online teaching platform (ANR/Investissement 2020 hybridization laureate) and the MOOC 'Construire en fibres végétales aujourd'hui' (launched 2024, free access through May 2027). The amàRéno project (ANR-22-CMAS-0017), funded under the France 2030 'Compétences et métiers d'avenir' program, targets training 500 teachers/trainers to reach 150,000 building professionals in bio-geo-sourced rehabilitation.

Revenue is generated across four streams: professional training services, engineering and consulting services (mostly to public-sector and cultural clients such as Médiathèque James Baldwin, Musée des Confluences, and Communauté de Communes de Moselle et Madon), one-time license fees for pedagogical materials, and design/architecture commissions. The organization also receives public funding from ADEME and ANR/France 2030. Customers primarily comprise individual building professionals (architects, engineers, craftspeople), teachers and trainers in architecture and engineering schools, public institutions (municipalities, cultural venues), and private developers (notably Quartus). amàco markets through its website, a monthly newsletter, social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), press coverage, and participation in conferences such as TERRA 2016 and the Biennale d'Architecture de Lyon; it also runs the materia award, a global prize for contemporary raw earth architecture.

Name

amàco

Legal name

amàco – atelier matières à construire

Website

https://amaco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

amàco is a French non-profit association that provides professional training, engineering consulting, and applied research on natural building materials (raw earth and plant fibers) for architects, engineers, builders, and public institutions, supported by a nine-partner academic consortium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Construction Education & Engineering Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400)

akta.pro primary industry

Architecture, Planning & Surveying (AIA, Planning, Land Surveyor CE) (EDAAALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD), Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Architecture, Construction & Building Codes Reference (Design, BIM, Safety Codes) (EDAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Natural building materials
• Raw earth construction
• Professional construction training
• Earth construction engineering
• Pedagogical material design

Headquarters

HQ city

Villefontaine

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Services: amàco provides continuing education and professional training courses on raw earth construction and bio-geo-sourced materials. Training is delivered as inter-company, intra-company, or customized programs at Les Grands Ateliers or partner locations.
2. Engineering and Consulting Services: Bureau d'études terre crue provides technical studies, material formulation, construction support, and project management for raw earth construction and rehabilitation projects.
3. Pedagogical Materials and Tools: Development and sale of educational materials, kits, and tools for teaching natural building materials to educational institutions and training organizations.
4. Design and Architecture Projects: Design and architectural services creating material effects and construction systems for contemporary design and interior design projects using natural materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

amàco provides five core activity areas for construction, architecture, and design professionals: (1) Bureau d'études terre crue — engineering studies, material formulation, and construction support for raw earth building projects; (2) Design & Architecture — design of material effects and construction systems using natural materials; (3) Formations — initial and continuing professional training programs on bio- and geo-sourced materials; (4) Ateliers & Expositions — workshops and exhibitions for professionals and the general public; and (5) Matériel Pédagogique — educational kits, science tools, and scale-1 prototype materials for teaching natural construction.

Product overview

amàco (atelier matières à construire) is a French organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of services focused on natural construction materials, specifically raw earth and plant fibers. The core offerings include five main activity areas: (1) Bureau d'études terre crue - engineering studies and project assistance for raw earth construction, (2) Design & Architecture - material effects and construction systems design, (3) Formations - professional training programs with both initial and continuing education, (4) Ateliers & Expositions - workshops and exhibitions for awareness building, and (5) Matériel Pédagogique - educational kits and prototype materials. Supporting these are two key digital platforms: the Plateforme RESSOURCES for online teaching of bio-geo-sourced construction, and the amàRéno project for massive skills development in building professionals. The organization also operates the MOOC Construire en fibres végétales online course and manages the materia award program for contemporary earth architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• amàRéno: Project for rehabilitation and bio-geo-sourced renovation focusing on mass skill development for building professionals
• RESSOURCES
• materia award
• Grains de Bâtisseurs

Products and services

• Bureau d'études terre crue Engineering and consulting service for raw earth construction projects: material studies, assistance à maîtrise d'ouvrage, maîtrise d'œuvre, on-site execution support, production development, and local earth material supply chain development. Targets construction project owners, architects, municipalities, and cultural institutions.
• Formations (Professional Training Programs)

Quantifiable outcome

• 500 teachers/trainers targeted for training to reach 150,000 building professionals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered founding, core and supporting.

• GAIAfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of amàco consortium. GAIA is part of the core institutional partnership that established and supports amàco's mission to promote natural building materials.
• ENSA Grenoble (École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Grenoble)foundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner and key educational institution in the amàRéno consortium. ENSA Grenoble collaborates on developing curricula and pedagogical methods for bio-geo-sourced construction education.
• INSA LyonfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner and member of amàRéno consortium. INSA Lyon contributes engineering expertise to material science and construction technology development.
• ESPCI (École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris)foundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner contributing scientific expertise in physics and chemistry to understanding material behaviors in natural construction.
• CRAterrefoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner and international center of expertise on earth architecture. CRAterre brings research and documentation expertise on earthen architecture traditions.
• AECC (Architecture Environnement Construction Culture)foundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner contributing to the environmental and cultural dimensions of sustainable construction education.
• Les Grands AtelierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for amàco operations in Villefontaine. Les Grands Ateliers provides facilities for training, workshops, and prototype construction. Also a partner in the amàRéno consortium.
• ASDER (Association pour le Développement des Énergies Renouvelables)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining organization partner in amàRéno consortium, contributing expertise in renewable energy and sustainable building for professional training development.
• CMQ Transfrontalier Construction Durable InnovantecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCross-border professional training center for innovative sustainable construction. Member of amàRéno consortium representing initial professional education.
• Conseil National de l'Ordre des Architectes (CNOA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational council of architects acting as representative of employers in the amàRéno consortium, ensuring alignment with professional practice needs.
• QuartuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaster developer and property company partner in amàRéno consortium, representing the development industry perspective in sustainable construction training.
• Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner for material science and engineering programs. Collaborates on interdisciplinary approaches to construction material education.
• Cycle TerresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal production facility for raw earth materials in Seine-Saint-Denis. Partner in research and development of earth construction techniques.
• ETH ZurichsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Federal Institute of Technology partner for international academic exchange and research collaboration on construction materials.
• TU Wien (Université technologique de Vienne)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil engineering department partnered with amàco to train researchers and students in raw earth construction techniques, December 2023.
• ENSA Lyon (École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Lyon)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture school partner for student training programs and annual 'Transformer la matière en matériau' course for first-year students.
• École des Ponts ParisTechsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for ATHENS European Week programs and specialized training on innovative construction materials for sustainable development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Hempitecture: US-based startup commercializing hemp-based building insulation and wall systems. Comparable in its focus on plant-fiber-based construction products and pursuit of mainstreaming bio-based building materials.

Broad incumbents

• Compagnons du Devoir: Major French vocational training organization for skilled building trades. Overlaps with amàco's continuing professional education mission in the construction sector, though with a much broader craft scope and longer operating history.

Direct peers

• Clayworks: UK-based manufacturer of natural clay plasters and finishes for sustainable architecture. Overlaps with amàco's bio-geo-sourced material focus, particularly on plant-fiber reinforced clay finishes, though with a more product/commercial orientation.
• Cycle Terre: French producer of raw earth bricks in Seine-Saint-Denis and amàco partner. Comparable through local earth material sourcing, R&D on earth construction techniques, and participation in the broader bio-geo-sourced construction ecosystem.
• École d'Avignon: French training center for heritage and traditional construction crafts. Overlaps with amàco on professional training, hands-on pedagogy for natural materials and CPF-eligible continuing education for building professionals.
• Bauhaus Earth: German non-profit foundation advancing earthen architecture in contemporary practice. Shares amàco's mission of bringing raw earth into mainstream construction through research, education and demonstration projects.
• Lehm Ton Erde: Austrian practice led by Martin Rauch specializing in rammed earth (pisé) and clay construction for architecture. Highly comparable through its expertise in raw earth building techniques, R&D and architectural execution of earthen buildings.
• Terrafibre: Canadian producer of hemp-based natural building materials, including hempcrete and fiber insulation. Directly comparable to amàco's plant-fiber focus and adjacent to its educational mission on renewable bio-sourced construction materials.
• CRAterre: International center of expertise on earth architecture and founding partner of amàco. CRAterre conducts research, training and documentation on raw earth construction that directly overlaps with amàco's material science, training and pedagogical mission.

Regional players

• Earth Building UK & Ireland: Trade association promoting earth construction across the UK and Ireland. Comparable mission of advocacy, training, and standard-setting for earthen construction professionals, though focused on a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9HfEFwOmVXdYI15pZSyacQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/atelier.amaco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/am%C3%A0co
• Instagraminstagram.com/atelier_amaco
• Xx.com/Atelier_amaco

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 amàco