UMAN Architect

What UMAN Architect does

UMAN Architect is a Belgian architecture practice headquartered in Grâce-Hollogne, Liège, formed in December 2021 through the merger of three firms — HP Architecture, Contraste Architecture, and Pierre Maes & Associés. The firm employs approximately 40 professionals and provides architecture, interior design, project management, and heritage restoration services. Its core focus is the Belgian public sector, with a documented portfolio spanning government buildings, municipal projects, rescue-zone facilities, and intercommunale commissions, alongside heritage restoration work on classified assets such as the Château de Jemeppe. Architectural delivery is supported by BIM workflows built on ArchicAD, enabling standardized design coordination across complex public and heritage projects.

The firm's go-to-market combines participation in competitive public procurement processes in Wallonia with private commissions, the latter served in part through its 2024-launched residential and interior design sub-brand, ÔME by UMAN. Revenue is generated primarily through project-based architecture fees tied to public contracts and private build-outs, with no disclosed pricing model, ARR, or contract-value data available. Recent activity signals modest expansion: the practice has added senior staff in 2024, November 2025, and January 2026, and has partnered with other Belgian firms (including Assar Architects) on flagship projects such as the Centre Régional de Crise. Governance transitioned during this period with founding partner Pierre Maes stepping down as director.

UMAN's strategic positioning is that of a mid-sized, regionally anchored specialist firm rather than a national generalist: it competes on heritage and public-sector credibility within Wallonia, supplements that base with private residential work via ÔME, and grows through incremental capacity additions rather than geographic or segmental pivots. No funding rounds, acquisitions, AI-native capabilities, or outside-Belgium expansion have been disclosed.

Name

UMAN Architect

Legal name

UMAN architect s.a.

Website

https://uman.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UMAN Architect is a Belgian architecture firm of approximately 40 professionals, formed in 2021 from three merged practices, serving public-sector and heritage clients in Wallonia with architecture, interior design, and project management services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Public procurement architecture
• Heritage restoration
• Building information modeling
• Industrial building design

Headquarters

HQ city

Grace-Hollogne

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Professional Services: UMAN Architect generates revenue through fees for architectural design services, project management, and construction supervision. Revenue is derived from a mix of public procurement competitions and private commissions for architectural projects spanning housing, public buildings, heritage restoration, industrial, and tertiary sectors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UMAN Architect is a full-service architecture firm offering architectural design, project management, and construction supervision for public buildings, housing, industrial facilities, tertiary sector projects, and heritage restoration across Belgium. The firm participates in public procurement competitions and accepts private commissions, with a specialized sub-brand ÔME by UMAN dedicated to residential and interior design projects. Services are delivered by a multidisciplinary team of approximately 40 architects, BIM managers, draftsmen, and 3D visualization specialists.

Product overview

UMAN Architect is an architecture firm operating as two distinct offerings: the core UMAN Architect brand provides comprehensive architectural services across public buildings, housing, industrial, tertiary sector, heritage restoration, and competition studies; while ÔME by UMAN operates as a specialized sub-brand focused on residential projects and interior design. The two entities work together under the same umbrella, with ÔME serving as the dedicated residential and interior design arm of the practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ÔME by UMAN: Entity specializing in residential and interior design projects

Products and services

• Architectural Design and Project Management Services Full-service architecture offering covering design, project management, and construction supervision for public buildings, housing, industrial, tertiary, and heritage projects across Belgium.
• Public Procurement Competition Services Specialized service for architecture competitions and public tenders covering government infrastructure, fire stations, hospitals, police zones, sports complexes, and large public buildings.
• Heritage Restoration and Adaptive Reuse Services Specialized restoration and adaptive reuse of classified châteaux, protected buildings, and heritage sites, including full structural restoration, interior design, and conservation work.
• ÔME by UMAN Residential and Interior Design Services
• Industrial and Tertiary Architecture Services Architectural services for industrial facilities, manufacturing headquarters, commercial buildings, business parks, and tertiary sector clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Heritage restoration projects have included classified buildings such as Château de Jemeppe (classified since 1982), Château de Mirwart, and the Dalhem Tunnel, each requiring specialized conservation approaches.

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Jaspers-Eyers Architects LeuvenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Château de Mirwart restoration project. UMAN worked alongside Jaspers-Eyers Architects on targeted interventions inside and outside the castle, including restoration of roofs, access bridge, walls, guard tower, and classified main rooms.
• Atelier d'architecture et d'urbanisme L'EquerreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the La Cova sports complex modernization project for the City of Arlon. L'Equerre served as architecture and urbanism partner on this large-scale public sports infrastructure project.
• Qbrik and SOHOOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Wallonia US Gate project (redevelopment of military barracks in Bastogne into a business center). Qbrik and SOHOO partnered with UMAN on this 1,200m² adaptive reuse project.
• Interior architect Juliette ChamberlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with interior architect Juliette Chamberland on the Jadot Castle Wedding Hall renovation in Marche-en-Famenne. The project encompassed architectural work, interior design, and meticulous restoration of artworks.
• Jaspers-Eyers Architects LeuvenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUMAN has also completed projects in association with Jaspers-Eyers Architects Leuven, as referenced on the Mirwart Castle project page.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Chapman Taylor: International architecture and masterplanning firm partnering with UMAN on the Liège Airport Business Park masterplan. Competes in the same large-scale public and commercial masterplanning space where UMAN is increasingly active.
• VK Architects & Engineers: Belgian multidisciplinary architecture and engineering firm partnering with UMAN on the CHU de Liège hospital competition. Much larger, full-service AE practice active across Belgium, providing direct competition for large-scale healthcare and public infrastructure tenders.

Regional players

• Bureau Bouwtechniek: Belgian architectural and technical consultancy with strong presence in public building projects and heritage work. Comparable in service offering (architecture + technical supervision) and Belgian public-sector focus.

Direct peers

• Artau Architectes: Walloon architecture firm of comparable size with strong portfolio in healthcare, public infrastructure, and execution-focused project delivery. Emmanuel Pierret's recent move from Artau to UMAN underscores the direct overlap in talent and project focus.
• Conix Architects: Belgian multidisciplinary architecture firm with comparable scale and project mix spanning public, residential, and industrial buildings. Both firms compete for similar public procurement commissions in Belgium and pursue parallel design philosophies rooted in human-centered practice.
• 51N4E: Belgian architecture practice with strong public-sector and adaptive reuse portfolio comparable to UMAN's heritage and public infrastructure work. Both firms operate from Belgium with similar project scale and emphasis on contextual, socially-engaged design.
• a2o architecten: Belgian architecture firm of comparable scale with strong public-sector and adaptive reuse portfolio. Active in similar concours-based public procurement work in Belgium, particularly in Flanders and Wallonia.
• Atelier Kempe Thill: Belgian/international architecture practice with strong portfolio in housing, public infrastructure, and contextual design. Comparable in scale and project typology, particularly in social housing and adaptation projects.
• Beel Architecten: Belgian architecture practice with comparable scale and focus on public-sector commissions, heritage, and adaptive reuse. Directly comparable in project typology and Belgian market positioning.
• Jaspers-Eyers Architects: Major Belgian architecture firm collaborating with UMAN on the Château de Mirwart heritage project. Comparable in offering multidisciplinary architectural services across public, private, and heritage sectors in Belgium, and one of the few firms of comparable scale in the Wallonia/Brussels market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UMANArchitect
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/u-man-architect
• Instagraminstagram.com/umanarchitect

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 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 UMAN Architect