Studio BELEM
Studio BELEM is a Paris-based architecture studio founded in 2021 by Édouard Bettencourt and Malik Lemseffer, specializing in adaptive reuse, building transformation, and sustainable urban densification for real-estate developers and public-sector clients in France and Morocco.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Studio BELEM does
Studio BELEM is a Paris-based architecture studio founded in 2021 by Édouard Bettencourt and Malik Lemseffer, whose collaboration dates to 2012 in Belém, Brazil. The firm operates with a small multidisciplinary team of approximately eight members, including apprentices, and specializes in adaptive reuse, building transformation, and sustainable urban densification. Its work is organized around five stated thematic pillars (memory, bioregion, tectonics, domesticity, and joyful use), which are applied across residential, hospitality, commercial, and cultural-building projects ranging from small-scale interiors of roughly 100 m² to large mixed-use developments exceeding 15,000 m².
The studio's commercial offering is project-based architectural services delivered to enterprise clients, primarily real-estate developers and public-sector entities. Project portfolio and named clients indicate recurring engagement with large institutional developers such as Bouygues Immobilier, Immobel, and GA Smart Building, alongside smaller private developers and public bodies including Action Foncière Logement, SEMAPA, and the Ville de Paris. Concept and speculative projects (Aula Modula, Aswar El Beyt, MMON Metaverse Museum) and a Pavillon de l'Arsenal exhibition record indicate that the firm also invests in profile-building cultural work alongside commissioned architecture.
Revenue mechanics are consistent with a conventional French boutique architecture practice: fee-based commissions tied to individual projects and competition wins, with no disclosed subscription, SaaS, or platform model. Geographic footprint spans France and Morocco, with active projects in Casablanca and Marrakech supplementing the Parisian core. No external funding rounds, acquisitions, or platform technology components have been disclosed; the firm appears to operate as an independent professional services studio competing primarily on design quality, competition track record, and brand recognition.
Studio BELEM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Studio BELEM
- Legal name
- Studio BELEM
- Website
- https://studiobelem.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Studio BELEM is a Paris-based architecture studio founded in 2021 by Édouard Bettencourt and Malik Lemseffer, specializing in adaptive reuse, building transformation, and sustainable urban densification for real-estate developers and public-sector clients in France and Morocco.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Studio BELEM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (54141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)
Keywords
Where Studio BELEM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Studio BELEM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural services including concept design, project management, and construction supervision for mixed-use developments, renovations, and urban transformation projects.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Studio BELEM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Studio BELEM is an architecture studio providing architectural design services including renovation, new construction, urban extension, and building elevation projects. Their practice centers on adaptive reuse, transforming existing buildings (former garages, printing houses, retail stores) into housing, hotels, offices, and mixed-use developments. The studio is guided by five thematic axes: Revealing What Still Stands, Making Simple and Right, Working with Remnants, Creating Common Spaces, and Thickening the City from Above.
Product overview
Studio BELEM is an architecture studio that operates in architecture, design, and research. Their core offering consists of architectural design services spanning renovation of existing buildings, new construction projects, urban extensions, and building elevations. The studio's portfolio includes diverse programs such as hotels, student residences, offices, commercial spaces, and housing. In addition to their built projects, they develop conceptual and research initiatives including Aula Modula (flexible post-COVID housing concept), Aswar El Beyt (contemporary medina urban concept), and MMON (metaverse museum concept). The studio's practice is guided by five thematic axes: Revealing What Still Stands, Making Simple and Right, Working with Remnants, Creating Common Spaces, and Thickening the City from Above.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Design Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Material reuse and low-tech approaches reduce construction carbon footprint
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Studio BELEM
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Studio BELEM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Studio BELEM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ville de PariscoreCity of Paris partnered on APEX initiative recognizing exemplary Parisian architecture integrating ecological and social requirements.
- Quadral PromotioncoreWon competition together for lot 6C of ZAC Python-Duvernois urban development project in Paris 20th arrondissement for Action Logement, with SEMAPA and Ville de Paris.
- SEMAPAcoreCollaborative partnership on ZAC Python-Duvernois urban development project involving public urban development entity.
- Maison des Doctorants en ArchitectureminorCollaboration on post-earthquake Morocco conference to gather experts, researchers, and architecture professionals to explore innovative reconstruction solutions.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Studio BELEM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Architecture-Studio: Paris-based architecture firm with extensive portfolio in cultural, educational, and urban projects across France and internationally. Comparable in serving French institutional and developer clients, though larger in scale and with broader typology than Studio BELEM.
Broad incumbents
- MVRDV: Dutch global architecture firm with extensive portfolio in adaptive reuse, mixed-use urban developments, and sustainable density. Comparable to Studio BELEM in typology and target clients (developers and municipalities), but operating internationally at much larger scale with broader service offerings.
- BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Global architecture firm with major mixed-use, residential, and adaptive reuse projects across Europe and beyond. Comparable to Studio BELEM in client base (large developers, public entities) and typology focus, though at vastly different scale and with much broader geographic reach.
- OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture): Rotterdam-based global architecture firm with deep portfolio in urban transformation, mixed-use developments, and innovative residential typologies. Comparable to Studio BELEM in design philosophy around densification and adaptive reuse, though at vastly larger scale with offices worldwide.
- David Chipperfield Architects: London-based global architecture firm with a strong portfolio in heritage adaptation, cultural buildings, and urban regeneration. Comparable to Studio BELEM in its emphasis on revealing existing fabric and contextual sobriety, though operating at much larger scale and on institutional projects.
- Snøhetta: Norwegian-headquartered global architecture and design firm with comparable focus on contextual, sustainable design and adaptive reuse of existing structures. Similar design-led approach but with international reach and larger project scale.
- Stefano Boeri Architetti: Italian architecture firm known for sustainable urban design and vertical densification (famous for Bosco Verticale). Comparable to Studio BELEM in emphasis on sustainability and biophilic urbanism, though operating at larger scale across Europe and internationally.
Direct peers
- LAN Architecture: Paris-based architecture firm focused on adaptive reuse, mixed-use urban projects, and sustainable design. Highly comparable to Studio BELEM in project typology (mixed-use developments, building transformations) and in serving French institutional and developer clients. Larger in scale but operates in the same design space.
- Atelier TGT (Thomas Gentil & Tu Tran): Paris-based architecture studio with similar profile: small team, focus on adaptive reuse and existing building transformations, mixed-use residential and cultural programs in Paris. Directly comparable in size, philosophy, and project types.
- Lacaton & Vassal Architectes: Paris-based architecture firm renowned for adaptive reuse, transformation of existing social housing, and sustainable construction. Directly comparable to Studio BELEM in philosophy (preserve/transform rather than demolish) and in target clients (developers, social housing entities, municipalities). Pritzker Prize winner (2021) sets the upper benchmark for this niche.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Studio BELEM social profiles
Digital presenceStudio BELEM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Studio BELEM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Studio BELEM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Studio BELEM 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 Studio BELEM
What does Studio BELEM do?
Studio BELEM is an architecture studio providing architectural design services including renovation, new construction, urban extension, and building elevation projects. Their practice centers on adaptive reuse, transforming existing buildings (former garages, printing houses, retail stores) into housing, hotels, offices, and mixed-use developments. The studio is guided by five thematic axes: Revealing What Still Stands, Making Simple and Right, Working with Remnants, Creating Common Spaces, and Thickening the City from Above.
Is Studio BELEM a public or private company?
Studio BELEM is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Studio BELEM founded?
Studio BELEM was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Studio BELEM based?
Studio BELEM is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Studio BELEM make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Design Services.
Who are Studio BELEM's main competitors?
Architecture-Studio is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are MVRDV, BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture), David Chipperfield Architects, Snøhetta and Stefano Boeri Architetti. Direct peers are LAN Architecture, Atelier TGT (Thomas Gentil & Tu Tran) and Lacaton & Vassal Architectes.
Does Studio BELEM have an API?
No public API is recorded for Studio BELEM.
What industry is Studio BELEM in?
Studio BELEM's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAK, Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54141.