Dauchez Architectes

What Dauchez Architectes does

Dauchez Architectes is a privately-held, family-led architecture practice founded in 1990 by Gil and Florence Dauchez and based at 34 avenue du 6 juin in Caen, Normandy, France. The firm operates with a deliberately small team of approximately 6-8 staff, with Léonard Dauchez joining as managing associate in 2022 to secure generational continuity. Its work centers on low-tech, bioclimatic, sustainable architecture organized around a three-pillar manifesto: Préserver (rehabilitation and adaptive reuse), Sourcer (local wood and biosourced material supply chains), and Situer (site-responsive, passive environmental design).

The service portfolio covers new timber-frame construction (ossature bois), thermal renovation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings including Reconstruction-period heritage, and bioclimatic site design. Technical differentiators include compressed straw-bale insulation, biosourced and recycled insulants, natural ventilation, and—on the flagship PESS de Falaise project—positive energy performance via district heating plus an 800m² photovoltaic array with full on-site stormwater management. Projects typically range from 470K€ to 6.1M€ HT in construction value, with an aggregate disclosed portfolio exceeding 20M€ HT across roughly a dozen identified works.

The firm operates as a professional services practice on a project-based fee model. Its go-to-market is direct engagement with public-sector clients (communes, intercommunalités such as Argentan Intercom, Communauté de Communes Omaha ISIGNY, Pays de Falaise) through competitive tendering (appels d'offres), complemented by direct negotiation for a small stream of private residential commissions. Geographic scope is regional across Normandy (Calvados 14, Orne 61, Manche 50). The firm relies on a curated engineering and consultancy network (e.g., COQUIERE for CVC/electrical, MWAH as consortium mandataire, EXEO for thermal, MUE Paysage for landscape) to deliver multi-disciplinary public-sector mandates.

Name

Dauchez Architectes

Legal name

Dauchez Architectes

Website

https://dauchezarchitectes.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dauchez Architectes is a family-owned architecture practice in Caen, Normandy, founded in 1990, specializing in low-tech, bioclimatic, timber-frame and straw-bale construction. It serves French public-sector municipalities via competitive tenders and a small number of private residential clients across Calvados, Orne, and Manche.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Sustainable architecture services
• Bioclimatic building design
• Timber frame construction
• Building rehabilitation renovation
• Public sector architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Caen

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture Services: Traditional architecture firm revenue through design fees, project management, and construction supervision for public and private clients. Projects range from 470,000€ to 6.1M€ HT.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Dauchez Architectes is an architecture and territory agency that provides architectural design, construction project management, and urban planning services from feasibility study through construction delivery. The firm specializes in sustainable, low-tech, bioclimatic architecture for public sector clients (municipalities, intercommunalities) and select private residential clients across Normandy, using timber frame construction, compressed straw bale insulation, and biosourced/recycled materials. Its work is structured around a three-pillar philosophy — Préserver (Preserve), Sourcer, Situer (Situate) — and covers new construction, thermal renovation, and adaptive reuse of existing structures including Reconstruction-period heritage buildings.

Product overview

Dauchez Architectes is an architecture and territory agency offering a unified service portfolio centered on sustainable architectural practice. Their core offering is architectural design and territory planning, organized around three integrated pillars: Préserver (Preserve/rehabilitate existing buildings), Sourcer (Source local materials, especially wood), and Situer (Situate projects within their ecological context). They specialize in new timber frame construction, renovation of existing structures including Reconstruction-period buildings, and urban planning services. Their projects span educational facilities, social housing, public buildings, and community infrastructure, with a consistent focus on low-tech, bio/geosourced materials, and energy-efficient design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture et Agence de Territoire Full architectural design, construction project management, and urban/territory planning service offered by the firm, with a consistent low-tech, bio- and geosourced material philosophy. Delivered to French public municipalities, intercommunalities, and select private clients across Normandy.
• Réhabilitation et Rénovation (Préserver) Building renovation and rehabilitation services focused on existing buildings, including thermal renovation, heritage preservation of Reconstruction-period structures, structural rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse for new functions. Targets public-sector clients (schools, community buildings) and private homeowners.
• Construction Neuve en Ossature Bois (Sourcer) New construction service using timber frame (ossature bois) methods, with emphasis on local wood sourcing from the Normandy filière bois, compressed straw bale insulation, and biosourced materials. Delivered for schools, municipal facilities, and residential extensions/elevations.
• Conception Bioclimatique et Durable (Situer) Bioclimatic and sustainable design service that integrates passive design principles, natural ventilation, low-tech solutions, and environmental responsiveness to site conditions (exposure, wind, light, soil, landscape). Applied across the firm's new build and renovation portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Positive energy building through external insulation and district heating + 800m² photovoltaic
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MWAHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWAH as mandataire on Cité scolaire Ginette Kolinka d'Argentan project (6.1M€ HT) where Dauchez Architectes serves as associated architect.
• AFCEminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAFCE provides CVC Thermique (HVAC) expertise for maternal school project in Ecouché.
• ECOLAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerECOLA provides economic consulting for multiple projects including maternal school and elementary school projects.
• BaderminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBader provides electrical engineering for maternal school project in Ecouché.
• COQUIEREcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCOQUIERE provides CVC, ELEC, PPV, Thermique engineering across multiple projects including schools and youth centers.
• ACOUSTIBELminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerACOUSTIBEL provides acoustic consulting for projects.
• QSBminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerQSB provides wood structure engineering for Cité scolaire Ginette Kolinka project.
• SOGETIminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSOGETI provides TCE (all technical engineering) for Cité scolaire project.
• EXEOminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEXEO provides thermal engineering and environment consulting for Cité scolaire and other projects.
• GAMBAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGAMBA provides acoustic consulting for Cité scolaire project.
• MUE PaysageminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMUE Paysage provides landscape architecture for campsite and school projects.
• AECOminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAECO provides economic consulting for school group projects.
• CREAHOMEminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCREAHOME provides mixed structure engineering for school projects.
• ECRminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerECR provides VRD (roads and utilities) engineering for school group project.
• INGOTECminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerINGOTEC provides economic consulting for Trévières cinema and housing project.
• CONSTRUCTIFminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCONSTRUCTIF provides CVC, ELEC, SSI, Thermique engineering for Trévières project.
• La CapsuleminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLa Capsule provides architectural perspectives for Trévières project.
• Lamine SalaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLamine Sala provides architectural perspectives (court perspective) for Cité scolaire project.
• Cyrille ThomasminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCyrille Thomas provides architectural perspectives for Cité scolaire project.
• François BaudryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFrançois Baudry provides photography for completed projects (PESS Falaise, Ecole élémentaire).
• Cyril FolliotminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCyril Folliot provides photography for extension and campsite projects.
• Antoine CardiminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAntoine Cardi provides photography for maternal school project.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Atelier Loyer: Small French architecture practice specialized in sustainable residential and public projects. Comparable in scale, family-style structure, and bioclimatic design focus.
• Encore Heureux: Paris-based architecture studio known for manifesto-driven, sustainable, and material-reuse-focused practice. Comparable in philosophy (réhabilitation, biosourced materials) and public-sector project profile.
• Tectône Architectes: French architecture firm known for timber/wood construction and public projects. Directly comparable in core competence of timber frame construction and biosourced approach for public sector clients.
• Calmels & Belliard Architectes: French architecture firm with strong public sector portfolio and sustainable design expertise. Comparable in focus on public tenders and territorial anchoring similar to Dauchez's Normandy base.
• Atelier Phileas: French architecture studio also specialized in low-tech, bioclimatic, and material-driven architecture for public and private clients. Directly comparable in philosophy, scale, and project typology to Dauchez Architectes.

Broad incumbents

• Franklin Azzi Architecture: Established French architecture firm with sustainability and rehabilitation focus across residential, public, and educational projects. Represents a larger competitor active in adjacent sustainable architecture tenders.
• Architectures-Studio: Major French architecture firm with broad public sector portfolio across schools, community, and institutional buildings. Represents a larger-scale incumbent competing in the same tender pool as Dauchez.

Emerging players

• collectif etc: French architecture collective focused on resource reuse, deconstruction, and material circularity. Comparable emerging player in the same manifesto and material-reuse space.
• Studio Naaro: French architecture studio focused on bio-sourced, low-tech, and material-driven design. Compare as an emerging practice with adjacent sustainability philosophy.

Regional players

• Tolila+Gilliland: Spanish/French architecture firm focused on social housing and sustainable public architecture. Comparable in public-sector social/housing focus but with broader geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dauchez-architectes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Dauchez Architectes