Particules
Particules is an architecture and urbanism office founded in 2016 that delivers urban planning, masterplan, and architectural consultancy services to French municipal, metropolitan, and select international public sector clients through competitive tenders and multidisciplinary consortiums.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersBois-Colombes, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Particules does
Particules is an architecture and urbanism office founded in 2016 by Lou Bellegarde and Fabienne Boudon, with operational offices in Le Pré-Saint-Gervais and a registered office in Bois-Colombes near Paris, plus stated activity in Berlin. The firm provides urban planning, masterplan development, and architectural consultancy services — including territorial strategy, pre-operational studies, regulatory dossier elaboration, and project coordination — to public sector clients across France and selected international jurisdictions. Its underlying methodology is a distinctive 'screen-free' co-construction approach built around site visits, maps, physical models, walking workshops, and collective discussion sessions with local stakeholders, complemented by an Urban Ecology Manual framework that integrates landscape, ecological continuities, social uses, and project temporalities into masterplan design. The most notable technical asset is the White Islands Cartographic Protocol, a GIS-based tool developed with research partner 0101 under a Lyon Architecture Biennale commission that subtracts Google Street View and geotagged Flickr coverage from satellite imagery to identify unmapped urban 'white spots'.
Revenue is generated exclusively through fee-for-service consultancy contracts with government entities, acquired via competitive tendering and consortium bidding. Documented project fees range from €80,000 (Troyes, 2016–2018) and €90,000 (Caen, 2017) to €180,000–€250,000 (Grenoble, Huningue, Sevran) per study, with a separate €2.7 million public spaces budget attached to the Grenoble Abbaye framework. The customer base spans French municipalities and metropolitan authorities (Sevran, Huningue, Grenoble, Rennes, Nantes, Noisy le Grand, Villerupt, Troyes), Établissements Publics d'Aménagement (EPA Marne, EPA Plaine de France, Alzette Belval EPA), and international governments (Seoul Metropolitan Government, Geneva intermunicipal authorities). Delivery is organized through multidisciplinary consortiums combining architecture (LIN, SOJA, 0101, Alphaville, Etablissement, HBLA, Fieldwork), landscape (Michel Desvigne Paysages, D'Ici Là Paysage), environment (Zefco), cultural urbanism (Cuesta), and policy design (Une Fabrique de la Ville, Vraiment Vraiment) expertise, with Particules often serving as lead architect-urbanist. The firm also operates the NOXI magazine on urban transformations and was selected in 2026 to curate the French Pavilion at the 2027 Venice Biennale.
Particules firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Particules
- Legal name
- Particules
- Website
- https://particule-s.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Particules is an architecture and urbanism office founded in 2016 that delivers urban planning, masterplan, and architectural consultancy services to French municipal, metropolitan, and select international public sector clients through competitive tenders and multidisciplinary consortiums.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Particules industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Planning and Architecture Services
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)
- SIC
- Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC), Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)
Keywords
Where Particules is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bois-Colombes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Particules business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Public Sector Consultancy Contracts: Revenue is generated through fee-for-service contracts with government clients (cities, metropolitan authorities, EPAs, national ministries) for urban planning studies, masterplan development, architectural and landscape consultancy, and project coordination. Contracts are typically won through competitive tendering and range from diagnostic studies to full urban project management and architectural coordination.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based consultancy fees for public sector urban planning and architecture engagements |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Particules product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Particules is an architecture and urbanism office providing urban planning, urban renewal, masterplan development, and architectural consultancy services to public sector clients. The firm stages projects from diagnostic study through operational implementation across diverse territorial contexts (riverbanks, public spaces, peri-urban zones, agricultural land, river-facing neighborhoods), integrating landscape ecology and territorial sensitivity into urban transformation engagements. It also develops editorial content and curatorial work, including the NOXI magazine and French Pavilion curation for the 2027 Venice Biennale.
Product overview
Particules is an architecture and urbanism office offering a portfolio of services centered on urban planning and design. The core offering consists of urban planning and design consultancy services, supplemented by specialized offerings including the Ateliers des Territoires Flash collaborative workshop format and NOXI Magazine publication. The firm works across operational projects, research initiatives, and territorial strategy engagements throughout Europe.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Urban Planning and Design Services End-to-end urban planning, urban renewal, and architectural consultancy services delivered from diagnostic study through operational implementation. Targeted at public sector clients, including municipalities, metropolitan authorities, and inter-municipal cooperation bodies, with projects spanning diverse territorial contexts (riverbanks, public spaces, peri-urban zones, agricultural land, river-facing neighborhoods).
- Ateliers des Territoires Flash Framework Agreement Engagement Pre-operational urban planning and territorial strategy studies delivered through the Ateliers des Territoires Flash national framework agreement for the French Ministry of Territorial Cohesion. Provides multidisciplinary expertise to local authorities on complex urban transformation briefs.
- NOXI Magazine Editorial publication produced by Particules dissecting urbanism, social dynamics, and the ecological transition. Targeted at the broader urban planning community and engaged public.
- Curatorial and Exhibition Services Curatorial work for major international architecture exhibitions, including selection to curate the French Pavilion at the 2027 Venice Biennale. Targeted at the international architecture and urbanism community and cultural institutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500 dwellings, two schools, one sports hall planned in 6 ha brownfield renewal (Huningue Zac du Canal)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Particules
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Particules technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Particules partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LINcoreLIN is a key strategic partner with which Particules has collaborated on major urban planning projects, notably the Sevran in the Greater Paris project where LIN served as mandatory lead and Particules as architecture and urban partner. The partnership combines architectural and urban planning expertise for metropolitan transformation projects.
- Michel Desvigne PaysagescoreRenowned landscape architecture firm collaborating with Particules on multiple projects including Mont D'Est renewal (Noisy le Grand), Villerupt Belvedere renewal, and Living qualities in the 3land (Huningue). MDP brings established landscape design expertise to Particules-led consortiums.
- Une Fabrique de la VillecoreProject set-up consultancy that has partnered with Particules on several projects including Living qualities in the 3land (Huningue), Updating a social heritage (Grenoble), Route de Rennes (Nantes Métropole), and Cointrin intermunicipal masterplan. Provides urban project management consultancy expertise.
- SOJAcoreArchitecture firm specializing in heritage, partnered with Particules on ZAC Bois Perrin urban project management (Rennes) and Belvedere working-class village renewal (Villerupt). SOJA provides heritage conservation expertise to Particules-led urban renewal projects.
- CuestacoreCultural urbanism firm partnering with Particules on ZAC Bois Perrin project (Rennes) and as co-leader of the French Pavilion project at the 2027 Venice Biennale alongside CUESTA, Naïm Ait Sidhoum and Nicolas Tixier.
- ZefcocoreEnvironment and low-carbon consultancy partnering with Particules on ZAC Bois Perrin urban project management (Rennes) and Mont D'Est district renewal (Noisy le Grand). Provides environmental and sustainability expertise for urban transformation projects.
- AlphavillecoreArchitecture firm partnering with Particules on Mont D'Est district renewal (Noisy le Grand) and Clos-Orteaux block renovation (Paris 20th arrondissement). Provides architectural design expertise within consortium structures.
- EtablissementcoreArchitecture and urbanism firm collaborating with Particules on Clos-Orteaux block renovation (Paris) and Route de Rennes urban renewal (Nantes Métropole). Part of multidisciplinary teams led by Particules.
- D'Ici Là PaysagecoreLandscape design firm partnering with Particules on the national Ateliers des Territoires Flash framework agreement team and multiple urban renewal projects including Updating a social heritage (Grenoble) and Haut-Sancé pre-operational study (Rennes).
- HBLAcoreArchitecture/heritage firm partnering with Particules on National Maritime Academy reconfiguration (Nantes) and ZAC Bois Perrin urban project management (Rennes).
- AcadieminorGeographer and political scientist firm that served as mandatory lead on Suburban Commons project (Caen) and Route de Rennes urban renewal (Nantes Métropole). Provides territorial analysis expertise.
- Ingénieurs associés (Ingérop, Arcadis, Berest)minorEngineering consultancies (Ingérop, Arcadis, Berest) partnered with Particules on various projects for technical expertise in structures, geotechnics, VRD, and environmental engineering.
- 0101coreArchitecture firm serving as mandatory lead on the White Islands Observatory research project, partnered with Particules. The project developed a GIS-based cartographic protocol to identify unmapped urban spaces.
- Vraiment VraimentminorPublic policy design firm partnered with Particules on New suburban uses (Troyes), Clos-Orteaux renovation (Paris), and La Tremblade sustainable development project. Provides participatory and strategic policy design expertise.
- FieldworkminorArchitecture firm partnered with Particules on Seoul urban forest competition, providing architecture expertise for the Gwanghwamun Square proposal.
- GrandtourminorArchitecture/urbanism firm partnered with Particules on Pont de Bois Campus redevelopment study for the University of Lille in Villeneuve d'Asq.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Particules competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KCAP: Dutch urban planning and architecture firm with deep European public-sector portfolio across cities and metropolitan areas. Comparable in combining urban strategy, masterplanning, and consortium-based project delivery.
- Agence Ter: Paris-based urban planning and landscape architecture firm working on French metropolitan projects (Grand Paris, Lyon Confluence). Directly comparable in scale, methodology, and French public-sector client base to Particules.
- LIN: French architecture and urban planning firm founded by Finn Geipel and Giulia Andi, working on metropolitan masterplans (including Sevran with Particules). Operates in the same niche of public-sector urban transformation, frequently partnering or co-bidding with Particules.
- TVK: French architecture and urban planning office founded by Antoine Vigneron and Philippe Vignaud, focused on metropolitan-scale projects and urban regeneration in France. Comparable in size, client mix, and design-led public-sector approach.
- Snøhetta: Norwegian architecture, landscape, and urbanism firm combining public-space design with masterplanning across Europe. Comparable in its integration of landscape ecology and urban transformation, though at much larger scale.
- 51N4E: Belgian architecture and urbanism practice with a European project portfolio, including Brussels-area masterplans and territorial strategies. Comparable in methodology, scale, and European public-sector focus.
- Michel Desvigne Paysages: Renowned French landscape architecture firm that frequently partners with Particules (Sevran, Huningue, Mont D'Est). Overlaps in landscape-driven urban transformation and shares the same public-sector clients and consortia.
Broad incumbents
- BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Global architecture and urbanism incumbent increasingly active in European masterplans and public-space competitions (e.g., Copenhagen, Paris-area projects). Represents the larger-scale competitor profile Particules may face going forward.
- MVRDV: Large Dutch architecture and urban planning incumbent with extensive European masterplanning portfolio. Competes for the same municipal clients but at much greater scale and as full-spectrum prime consultant.
Emerging players
- Moreau Kusunoki: French-Japanese architecture firm known for cultural and public projects, including the new Guggenheim Helsinki competition. Comparable as a boutique, design-led practice competing for high-profile European commissions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Particules social profiles
Digital presenceParticules financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Particules leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Particules funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Particules 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 Particules
What does Particules do?
Particules is an architecture and urbanism office providing urban planning, urban renewal, masterplan development, and architectural consultancy services to public sector clients. The firm stages projects from diagnostic study through operational implementation across diverse territorial contexts (riverbanks, public spaces, peri-urban zones, agricultural land, river-facing neighborhoods), integrating landscape ecology and territorial sensitivity into urban transformation engagements. It also develops editorial content and curatorial work, including the NOXI magazine and French Pavilion curation for the 2027 Venice Biennale.
Is Particules a public or private company?
Particules is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Particules founded?
Particules was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Particules based?
Particules is headquartered in Bois-Colombes, France, in the Europe region.
How does Particules make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Sector Consultancy Contracts.
Who are Particules's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KCAP, Agence Ter, LIN, TVK, Snøhetta, 51N4E and Michel Desvigne Paysages. Broad incumbents are BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) and MVRDV. Moreau Kusunoki is listed as an emerging player.
Does Particules have an API?
No public API is recorded for Particules.
What industry is Particules in?
Particules's product category is Urban Planning and Architecture Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAD, Urban Planning & Master Planning, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAC, Landscape Architecture & Site Design. Its NAICS code is 54132 and its SIC code is 6552.