LES SAPROPHYTES
Les Saprophytes is a Lille-based SCOP worker cooperative delivering participatory urban, architectural, and landscape design services, permaculture and low-tech training, and operating an urban forest-garden school and community third-place serving municipalities, citizen collectives, and individual learners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersHellemmes, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What LES SAPROPHYTES does
Les Saprophytes is a French worker cooperative (SCOP - Société Coopérative et Participative) and associated non-profit founded in 2007 in the Lille metropolitan area, comprising architects, landscape designers, permaculture practitioners, and artists. The collective delivers participatory urban, architectural, and landscape design services — including urban studies, project ownership assistance (AMO), and maîtrise d'oeuvre — alongside training programmes in permaculture design, agro-ecology, low-tech construction, and participatory processes. Service delivery is supported by an integrated physical ecosystem comprising La Chaufferie (a 100m² third-place and event venue in Hellemmes), La Fab (a shared DIY autoconstruction workshop with matériauthèque and outillothèque), Pep's (an urban forest-garden school and neighbourhood nursery), and active forest-garden sites including the historic Jardin Ressource (2,000m², 2014–2022) and the newly established Jardin Vivace (1,300m², Lezennes, July 2025).
The business model is diversified across multiple revenue streams: professional design fees from municipalities and public institutions, paid formation courses (cohorts of 10–24 participants), plant sales from the Pep's nursery, event-space rental at La Chaufferie, association membership dues and donations processed via HelloAsso, and project grants from foundations and regional authorities (Fondation de France, Région Hauts-de-France, Fondation Daniel et Nina Carasso, MEL, Département du Nord). Distribution is community-driven — there is no conventional sales team; acquisition runs through a ~1,797-subscriber newsletter, social media, partner associations, word-of-mouth, and direct relationships with municipal partners. Pricing is bespoke for design services, tiered for workshops and formations, and includes solidarity / free-pricing for community events such as the cantine solidaire.
The underlying methodology rests on permaculture design, participatory urban-design processes, low-tech autoconstruction techniques, and the use of reclaimed, biosourced, and geosourced materials, with documented outcomes including 8 years of community-garden operation and 60+ volunteers mobilised for the La Chaufferie rehabilitation. The collective does not develop software or AI systems; its codified knowledge is packaged through the HYPERfab commons platform (co-developed with Réseau Superville and FEDAC), methodological documentation, and certified permaculture training. There are no patents, trademarks, or third-party AI/ML integrations disclosed.
LES SAPROPHYTES firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LES SAPROPHYTES
- Legal name
- Les Saprophytes - SCOP
- Website
- https://les-saprophytes.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Les Saprophytes is a Lille-based SCOP worker cooperative delivering participatory urban, architectural, and landscape design services, permaculture and low-tech training, and operating an urban forest-garden school and community third-place serving municipalities, citizen collectives, and individual learners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LES SAPROPHYTES industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Urban Design & Ecological Architecture Services
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Landscaping Services (561730), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Landscape Construction Project Management & General Contracting (HSAIABAK), Commercial Landscape Design & Installation (HSAIABAJ)
Keywords
Where LES SAPROPHYTES is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hellemmes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
LES SAPROPHYTES business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Architectural & Landscape Design Services: Fees for studies, assistance à maîtrise d'ouvrage (AMO), and maîtrise d'œuvre for urban, architectural, and landscape projects. This is the core professional service revenue stream.
- Formation & Training Courses: Revenue from permaculture, agro-ecology, low-tech, and participatory process trainings offered by the SCOP and association. Booked via HelloAsso; deposits (arrhes) required for SCOP-held formations.
- Plant Sales (Pep's Nursery): Sale of perennial plants, shrubs, and bare-root fruit trees produced at the Pep's nursery in Hellemmes. Trees sold via pre-order on HelloAsso; perennials and shrubs sold on-site.
- Event Space Rental (La Chaufferie): Rental of the ground floor of La Chaufferie (100m² space) for meetings, conferences, and trainings. Pricing varies by structure size, event type (private/public, commercial/non-commercial), and duration. Evening and weekend bookings available.
- Membership Dues & Donations: Revenue from association membership ('Les Sapros') and donations, which support project realisation and the animation of La Chaufferie. Processed via HelloAsso.
- Public Funding & Grants: Project financing from institutional backers including the Fondation de France, Région Hauts-de-France, Ville d'Hellemmes, Ville de Lille, MEL, and others for specific initiatives such as the Pep's nursery and Jardin Vivace.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | La Chaufferie Space Rental — quote-based |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Herbier Imaginaire Workshop — tiered pricing |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Formation Courses — fixed capacity, deposit-based booking |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Cantine Solidaire — prix libre (free-pricing) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Plant Sales (Pep's Nursery) — per item |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
LES SAPROPHYTES product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Les Saprophytes is a SCOP (worker cooperative) and association of architects and landscape designers that sells urban, architectural, and landscape design studies, project ownership assistance (AMO), and maîtrise d'œuvre for collective living spaces. It also delivers participatory design facilitation, certified permaculture and agro-ecology training, and operates community-facing physical assets including La Chaufferie (event space and third-place), the Pep's urban forest garden school and nursery, and the FAB autoconstruction workshop.
Product overview
Les Saprophytes is a SCOP (worker cooperative) and association of architects and landscapists founded in 2007 in the Lille metropolitan area. The collective operates as a multi-project ecosystem rather than a single product company. Its portfolio includes: La Chaufferie (the collective's headquarters and third-place in Hellemmes), FAB (a shared DIY workshop promoting eco-construction and material reuse in Roubaix), and Peps - L'école du jardin-forêt (an urban forest garden school and neighborhood nursery). The collective delivers architectural and landscape studies, participatory design services, and training programs in permaculture, agro-ecology, and low-tech. Projects include forest garden sites (Jardin Vivace in Lezennes, Jardin Ressource in Fives), and operates a community library and rentable event space. The offering is a cohesive suite of place-based services—space, education, and project support—unified by principles of urban resilience, commons governance, and ecological transition.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FAB (Fabrique d'Architecture(s) Bricolée(s)): Open DIY workshop for self-construction, eco-building, and material reuse, operating from 2011-2020 in Roubaix.
- La Chaufferie
Products and services
- Études et Maîtrise d'Œuvre (Architecture & Landscape Studies) Studies, project ownership assistance (AMO), and maîtrise d'œuvre across urban, architectural, and landscape projects for municipalities, public institutions, and private clients. Co-developed through participatory processes with residents and project stakeholders.
- Formations (Permaculture, Agro-écologie, Low-tech, Processus participatifs) Training programmes in permaculture design, agro-ecology, low-tech construction, and participatory process facilitation. Delivered in person at La Chaufferie and partner sites, with sessions for students, professionals, and curious citizens.
- La Chaufferie Headquarters of Les Saprophytes SCOP and a multi-functional third-place in Hellemmes housing offices, partner associations, a library, and a 100m² ground floor used for workshops, solidarity cantines, and community events.
- Location de l'espace (La Chaufferie Space Rental) Rental of La Chaufferie's 100m² ground-floor event space for meetings, conferences, and training. Accommodates up to 30 seated or 50 conference-style, with equipped kitchen and AV facilities. Pricing varies by structure size, commercial vs. non-commercial nature, and duration.
- Pep's — L'École du jardin-forêt Urban forest garden school and neighborhood nursery focused on agroforestry, perennial food production, and plant multiplication. Operates neighborhood nurseries and demonstration gardens, with weekly open sessions and seasonal events for residents and visitors.
- FAB — Fabrique d'Architecture(s) Bricolée(s) Open DIY/autoconstruction workshop promoting self-rehabilitation, eco-construction, and material reuse in architecture. Provides free workshops, a material library (matériauthèque), tool library (outillothèque), and self-service access for residents.
- Pep's Plant Sales (bare-root fruit trees and perennials) Sale of perennial plants, shrubs, and bare-root fruit trees produced at the Pep's nursery in Hellemmes. Bare-root fruit trees sold via pre-order on HelloAsso; perennials and shrubs sold on-site during open sessions.
- Les Sapros Association Memberships & Donations Annual membership to the Les Sapros association and one-time donations processed via HelloAsso, supporting project realisation and La Chaufferie programming.
Quantifiable outcome
- 8 years of operation of the Jardin Ressource (2014–2022): hosted 150+ plant species and 50+ trees on 700m²; hundreds of residents, school groups, and university participants engaged.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use LES SAPROPHYTES
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
LES SAPROPHYTES technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
LES SAPROPHYTES partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ville de LezennescoreSigned a convention in July 2025 for the use of a 1,300m² site (Allée des Troënes) as the Jardin Vivace — a forest garden and urban agroforestry school. The municipality provides the land; the Saprophytes design and animate the space with residents.
- ANIS CatalystcoreKey strategic partner for the Pep's project, ANIS Catalyst brings expertise on the 'Commons' (biens communs) and has been working on this topic for nearly a decade. Their collaboration with Les Saprophytes shaped the Pep's nursery network concept.
- Ville d'HellemmescoreProvides space at 209 rue Chanzy for the Pep's nursery. Co-financing partner of urban greening and community garden initiatives in the commune. The municipality and the Saprophytes co-develop local ecological transition projects.
- Université Populaire de PermaculturecoreAccredited Les Saprophytes member Pascaline Boyron in May 2021 following 7 years of research-action on urban permaculture. Partner in the public presentation of the accreditation work.
- L'Atelier des AlvéolesminorPartner in Pascaline Boyron's permaculture accreditation process, contributing to the research-action methodology and hosting the public presentation of results.
- Permaculture InternationaleminorPartner network in Pascaline Boyron's permaculture accreditation, supporting the international permaculture education framework.
- Réseau SupervilleminorPartner network with which Les Saprophytes co-develops HYPERfab — a common platform dedicated to supported self-production in housing, equipment, and public space.
- FEDAC (Fédération des Associations pour le Développement de l'Autoconstruction et du Concept)minorCo-develops HYPERfab (with Superville) — a shared online platform making self-production knowledge a commons for housing, equipment, and public space.
- Association DynamominorAssociation housed in the offices of La Chaufferie alongside Les Saprophytes and Haute-Fidélité, contributing to the multi-association community space.
- Association Haute-FidélitéminorAssociation active in contemporary music housed in the offices of La Chaufferie alongside Les Saprophytes and Dynamo, sharing the tiers-lieu space.
- La Condition Publique (Roubaix)minorCultural venue in Roubaix that hosts the FAB workshop (Halle C). Provides physical space for the shared autoconstruction workshop, material library, and tool library.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
LES SAPROPHYTES competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bellastock: French cooperative of architects working on reuse of materials, temporary architecture, and participatory urban projects. Comparable to Les Saprophytes' FAB workshop and participatory co-construction work around reclaimed and biosourced materials.
- Atelier Paysan: French worker cooperative (SCOP) that designs and builds agricultural tools and small machinery using participatory, open-source methods. Highly comparable to Les Saprophytes in cooperative structure, permaculture/agroecology focus, and community-led design methodology.
- La Ferme du Bonheur: Urban permaculture farm in Paris integrating food production, training and cultural events. Directly comparable to Les Saprophytes' permaculture training, urban food forest (Pep's / Jardin Vivace) and pedagogical programme.
- Yes We Camp: French cooperative producing temporary and transitional community spaces (tiers-lieux) with strong social and environmental goals. Highly comparable to Les Saprophytes in cooperative structure, tiers-lieu model (La Chaufferie), and community-led programming.
- Zone-AH!: French research-design collective focused on metropolitan landscapes, urban ecology and the 'zone agricole protégée' concept. Comparable to Les Saprophytes in combining landscape architecture with research-action and ecological urbanism.
- Topager: French urban agriculture firm designing, installing and maintaining productive green roofs and edible landscapes. Overlaps with Les Saprophytes' Pep's nursery and urban food-forest work in the professional urban-agriculture category.
- Le Vivant et la Ville: French consultancy advising cities and developers on integrating biodiversity into urban projects. Comparable to Les Saprophytes' participatory AMO work on urban ecology, forest gardens and biodiversity-focused design with public-sector clients.
- Coloco: Paris-based landscape architecture and urban-agriculture studio developing participatory gardens and edible landscapes. Directly comparable to Les Saprophytes' landscape architecture, urban agroforestry and participatory design practice.
- La Recyclerie: Paris-based third-place built on a rehabilitated railway site, combining café, urban farm, workshops and community programming. Comparable to La Chaufferie as a community/animation third-place that pairs ecological transition with public-facing programming.
Emerging players
- Plateau Urbain: French cooperative developing temporary occupations of vacant urban spaces for community, cultural and agricultural uses. Adjacent to Les Saprophytes in cooperative structure and use of underutilised urban land for community/ecological projects.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LES SAPROPHYTES social profiles
Digital presenceLES SAPROPHYTES financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LES SAPROPHYTES leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
LES SAPROPHYTES subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
LES SAPROPHYTES funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LES SAPROPHYTES M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LES SAPROPHYTES
What does LES SAPROPHYTES do?
Les Saprophytes is a SCOP (worker cooperative) and association of architects and landscape designers that sells urban, architectural, and landscape design studies, project ownership assistance (AMO), and maîtrise d'œuvre for collective living spaces. It also delivers participatory design facilitation, certified permaculture and agro-ecology training, and operates community-facing physical assets including La Chaufferie (event space and third-place), the Pep's urban forest garden school and nursery, and the FAB autoconstruction workshop.
Is LES SAPROPHYTES a public or private company?
LES SAPROPHYTES is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was LES SAPROPHYTES founded?
LES SAPROPHYTES was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is LES SAPROPHYTES based?
LES SAPROPHYTES is headquartered in Hellemmes, France, in the Europe region.
How does LES SAPROPHYTES make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Architectural & Landscape Design Services are the primary driver. The others are formation & Training Courses, plant Sales (Pep's Nursery), event Space Rental (La Chaufferie), membership Dues & Donations and public Funding & Grants.
Who are LES SAPROPHYTES's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bellastock, Atelier Paysan, La Ferme du Bonheur, Yes We Camp, Zone-AH!, Topager, Le Vivant et la Ville, Coloco and La Recyclerie. Plateau Urbain is listed as an emerging player.
Does LES SAPROPHYTES have an API?
No public API is recorded for LES SAPROPHYTES.
What industry is LES SAPROPHYTES in?
LES SAPROPHYTES's product category is Sustainable Urban Design & Ecological Architecture Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAC, Landscape Architecture & Site Design, with a secondary code of HSAIABAK, Landscape Construction Project Management & General Contracting. Its NAICS code is 54132 and its SIC code is 1520.