What DHD Architectes does

DHD Architectes (legal entity Billard-Durand & Associés) is a privately held French architecture firm (S.A.R.L.) founded in 1983 and headquartered in Saint-Contest, near Caen, Normandy. The firm is co-managed by four partner-architects — Éric Durand, Nicolas Huet, Frédéric David, and Pierre Allal (the latter joining in 2023) — and operates with a multidisciplinary team of approximately 20 professionals organized into three internal competency poles: architecture & urbanism, construction direction, and BIM management. Its services span the full architectural lifecycle from initial sketch through construction supervision, with project categories including sports facilities (Palais des Sports Caen la Mer, 11,000 m²), educational buildings (PFRS, 20,400 m²; UFR d'Odontologie Rennes), healthcare facilities (Polyclinique du Parc), residential developments (Îlot A1 Herouville Saint-Clair, 11,263 m²), and commercial/industrial buildings (OTC pharmaceutical factory designed for 700 million doses/year capacity).

The firm generates revenue through project-based, one-time fees for architectural design and project management services, with pricing determined per-project based on scope and complexity rather than disclosed pricing tiers. Its core technology centers on in-house BIM management capabilities supporting digital modeling across all project phases, complemented by a documented environmental design approach (RSE) spanning HQE, E3C1, and BBC certifications. Business is won primarily through direct engagement, architectural competitions, and public tenders, with the customer base dominated by regional public-sector bodies in Normandy (Conseil Régional de Normandie, CC Caen la Mer, Université de Caen, CCI Caen) alongside select private-sector clients in real estate development, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. Geographic operations remain concentrated within the Calvados, Manche, and Seine-Maritime departments of Normandy.

Name

DHD Architectes

Legal name

Billard-Durand & Associés

Website

https://dhd-architectes.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DHD Architectes is a 40-year-old French architecture firm based in Normandy, providing integrated architecture, urbanism, construction direction, and BIM management services to public-sector clients (regional government, municipalities, education) and select private developers across sports, healthcare, education, residential, and industrial projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD), Construction Engineering & Constructability Consulting (BPAHAIAN)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Urban planning services
• Construction project management
• Building information modeling
• Public infrastructure design

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Contest

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Professional architectural services billed as one-time project fees for design, project management, and construction supervision. Services span from initial sketch to final delivery across diverse project types including public infrastructure, commercial, residential, and industrial buildings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DHD Architectes provides integrated architectural services through three internal competency poles: architecture & urbanism, construction direction, and BIM management. The firm delivers complete project lifecycle services from initial concept sketch to construction supervision for public and private clients, covering diverse building typologies including sports, education, healthcare, residential, commercial, and industrial facilities primarily across the Normandy region in France.

Product overview

DHD Architectes is a comprehensive architectural services firm offering integrated services across architecture & urbanism, construction direction, and BIM management. The agency operates with a team of approximately twenty multidisciplinary professionals organized into internal departments (architecture & urbanism, construction management, BIM) that enable rapid and coherent responses to project demands. Their portfolio spans eight major project categories: sports facilities, educational buildings, healthcare facilities, residential buildings, and commercial/industrial buildings, collectively demonstrating expertise across public and private commissions over forty years of operation in Normandy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivery of 100,000 m² complex project (Rives de l'Orne) worth €100 million in 27 months
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ChabannescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership on the Palais des Sports de Caen la Mer, an 11,000 m² sports facility delivered in 2023. The project was completed in only two years of construction - described as a technical feat.
• L2 ArchitectescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership on the Hôtel de Région Normandie project in Caen. L2 Architectes collaborated with DHD Architectes on this significant regional government building of 3,520 m², delivered in 2017.
• ChabannecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partnership on the PFRS – Pôle des Formations et de Recherche en Santé in Caen, a 20,400 m² healthcare education facility delivered in 2014. Won through competition with Chabanne partners.
• PWL AgencyminorOthersWebsite development partner responsible for the modern, clean redesign of the DHD Architectes website launched November 2023 to accompany the arrival of new partner Pierre Allal.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Groupe-6: French architecture firm known for public-sector work including cultural, educational, and healthcare facilities. Comparable in project typology but larger in headcount and geographic reach than DHD.
• AIA Associés (AIA Life Designers): French architectural and engineering group with significant healthcare, education, and public-sector projects. Larger and more diversified than DHD, with overlapping client base in French institutional commissions.
• Wilmotte & Associés: Established Paris-based French architecture firm with deep public-sector and cultural project portfolio. Operates at a larger scale than DHD but in directly overlapping French public-commission competitions.
• Atelier Christian de Portzamparc: Major French architecture studio with cultural, urban, and public-sector projects at national and international scale. A larger incumbent that competes for similar institutional clients as DHD.
• Dominique Perrault Architecture: Internationally recognized French architecture studio with a portfolio of landmark cultural and institutional projects. Larger and more international in reach but directly comparable in pursuing high-profile public commissions.
• Patriarche: Multi-disciplinary French architecture and engineering group with a national footprint across residential, commercial, and public-sector projects. A larger, broader incumbent competing for the same French public and private commissions.
• Architecture-Studio: Major Paris-based French architecture firm with national and international portfolio spanning public, cultural, and institutional projects. Broader and larger than DHD but competes in the same French public-architecture competitive landscape.

Emerging players

• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Danish-headquartered international architecture firm with a growing presence in France and active in the same public, cultural, and institutional typologies that DHD serves. Operates as an emerging international competitor in large-scale French public tenders.

Direct peers

• Chabanne (Chabanne + Architectes): French architecture firm that partnered directly with DHD Architectes on the PFRS (Pôle des Formations et de Recherche en Santé) in Caen, a 20,400 m² healthcare education facility delivered in 2014. Comparable in scale and focus on French public-sector commissions.
• L2 Architectes: French architecture firm that partnered with DHD on the Hôtel de Région Normandie (3,520 m²) delivered in 2017. Comparable mid-sized French architecture practice pursuing regional public commissions through competitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dhd-architectes
• Instagraminstagram.com/dhd_architectes

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 DHD Architectes