Grau

What Grau does

GRAU is a Paris-based architecture and urban design firm founded in 2010 by Susanne Eliasson and Anthony Jammes, operating as a small partner-led boutique of four to five professionals. The firm provides professional services in master planning, urban vision development, architectural design for large-scale buildings, and the transformation of territories in transition — ranging from hospitals and sports facilities to obsolete industrial sites and metropolitan station strategies. Notable commissions include the 2024 Olympic Adidas Arena in Paris, the urban vision for the new University Hospital of Nancy (CHRU Nancy), the Institut Gustave Roussy cancer research campus, the Notre-Dame surroundings transformation, the RER Metropolitan 2024 strategy for Bordeaux Métropole, and the reconversion of the 50-hectare Ford Blanquefort production site. GRAU serves primarily French and European public-sector clients, with documented projects in Belgium (Brussels, Wallonia), Sweden (Gothenburg, Stockholm), Switzerland, and a research presence in the United States via a 2022 Villa Albertine residency in Chicago.

The firm's methodology emphasizes "collective intelligence gathered around ideas" rather than fixed stylistic positions, assembling different multidisciplinary teams for each engagement rather than maintaining a single house style. GRAU coordinates a curated ecosystem of repeat partners including l'AUC, NP2F, 51N4E, MSA, Groupe 6, Bas Smets, SCAU, Atelier Roberta, and Sophie Delhay, and is often embedded as the mandatory urban-design partner on winning competition teams for flagship public commissions. The firm markets primarily through exhibitions (Garden Metropolis at Arc en rêve, 2022), academic publications (Living on earth, 2 pièces published by Pavillon de l'Arsenal), and its project portfolio of 165 documented engagements over fifteen years.

GRAU's revenue is project-based professional services income, secured through architecture competitions, competitive tendering, and direct commissions from public entities. The firm is privately held and founder-owned, with no external investors, subsidiaries, or public listing. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is determined per project by scope and complexity. The firm's differentiation rests on partner credentials — including a Palmares des Jeunes Urbanistes recognition (2016), EPFL Lausanne professorship, and Villa Albertine residency — and on its track record across high-prestige public-sector urban commissions in France and Europe.

Name

Grau

Legal name

GRAU

Website

https://grau-net.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GRAU is a Paris-based architecture and urban design firm founded in 2010 that delivers master planning, urban vision, and architectural design services for government, healthcare, and institutional clients across France and Europe on hospitals, sports venues, metropolitan strategies, and urban reconversions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Urban Design Services: Professional services revenue generated through architectural and urban design commissions, master planning engagements, and urban vision projects for government and institutional clients. Revenue is project-based, typically through competitive processes or direct commissions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

GRAU provides architectural and urban design services for buildings (hospitals, sports facilities, logistic centers), urban fragments (campuses), and territories in transition (residential areas, obsolete business parks). The firm develops urban visions, master plans, and reconversion strategies by positioning itself around projects to bring together ideas with diverse design teams.

Product overview

GRAU is an architecture and urban design firm offering professional services rather than a software product company. Their portfolio comprises integrated urban planning and master planning services, architectural design for large-scale buildings (hospitals, sports facilities, residential complexes), urban transformation and reconversion of industrial sites, research and exhibition publications on urban themes, and municipal consulting services. The firm works across diverse project types including campuses, territories in transition, urban fragments, and public spaces, bringing together multidisciplinary design teams to transform physical environments. Their approach emphasizes collective structures, nature, light, and contextual fit within environmental and urban frameworks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered project-level and core.

• Neustadtproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner on RER Metropolitan 2024 project, providing territorial and operational strategy around metropolitan stations in Bordeaux
• Une fabrique de la villeproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on RER Metropolitan 2024 project for Bordeaux metropolitan station strategy
• Groupe 6project-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm collaborating on CHRU Nancy (University Hospital) and Lanne hospital projects
• Atelier Robertaproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on CHRU Nancy urban vision project for new University Hospital
• Ingeropproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering partner on multiple projects including CHRU Nancy, Notre-Dame transformation, and Cauderan strategic plan
• l'AUCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead architectural partner on Institut Gustave Roussy cancer research center project (mandatory partner)
• NP2FcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural partner on Institut Gustave Roussy and Notre-Dame projects, also on Arena (2024 Olympic) project
• Mosbach paysagistesproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner on Institut Gustave Roussy cancer research center
• Arcadisproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering and consultancy partner on Institut Gustave Roussy project
• SCAUproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm collaborating on Arena (2024 Olympic) and Port Lauragais projects
• Bas Smetsproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead landscape architect on Brussels Pentagon master plan and collaborating on Dames Blanches garden city
• 51N4EcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm as mandatory partner on OIN Euratlantique and 50,000 dwellings strategic study projects
• MSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead urban planning partner on Vesdre valley redevelopment, Dames Blanches garden city, Homborchveld, and Butte Rouge projects
• Idea Consultproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsultancy partner on multiple projects including Vesdre valley, Brussels metropolitan, and garden city masterplans
• Sophie Delhay architectsproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead architectural partner on Python Duvernois collective housing and health center competition
• Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architectsproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on Vitra campus 2070 prospective vision project
• EO toutes architecturesproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture partner on Ford Blanquefort urban vision for reconversion of Ford production site
• Bouygues constructionproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction partner on Campus Grand Paris-Nord and Pompidou archives projects
• BASEproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead architecture/landscape on Bordeaux Grand Parc urban renewal and Chapelle Charbon master plan
• WALDproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on ZAC Chêne-Saint-Fiacre masterplan and urban coordination
• Transsolarproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate engineering partner on Norra Kymlinge car-free district (Stockholm) and Cité Abbé Grégoire projects
• Citytoolsproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Brussels 20th century crown urbanization research project
• Els Van de Kerkhoveproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Garden Metropolis exhibition at Arc en rêve (2022)
• UR architectsproject-levelStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating architects on Parempuyre 22 social housing units project

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NP2F: Paris-based architecture studio active in cultural, residential, and urban projects. GRAU collaborates with NP2F on the Notre-Dame surroundings, Gustave Roussy, and 2024 Olympic Arena projects, signaling overlapping client base and project typologies.
• BASE: French architecture and landscape practice focused on urban renewal, master planning, and large public projects. GRAU partners with BASE on Bordeaux Grand Parc and Chapelle Charbon, sharing similar urban regeneration specializations.
• SCAU: French architecture and urban design practice with strong public-sector credentials across sports, transport, and territorial projects. GRAU collaborates with SCAU on the 2024 Olympic Arena and Port Lauragais projects, indicating parallel positioning in French public commissions.
• Lacaton & Vassal: Paris-based architecture practice with strong focus on social housing transformation, existing building renewal, and territorial strategy at a similar boutique scale to GRAU. Operates in comparable French public-sector space.
• Atelier Roberta: Architecture practice collaborating with GRAU on the CHRU Nancy University Hospital urban vision. Operates at a comparable boutique scale in French public architecture and urbanism commissions.
• 51N4E: Brussels-based architecture and urbanism practice with a similar focus on large-scale urban transformation, public space design, and strategic master planning. GRAU has worked with 51N4E as a mandatory partner on Bordeaux Euratlantique and 50,000 dwellings projects, indicating closely aligned practice and scale.
• l'AUC: Paris-based architecture and urban design firm of comparable size, working on housing, healthcare campuses, and large public commissions in France. GRAU partners with l'AUC as lead architect on the Institut Gustave Roussy cancer center.
• Groupe 6: French architecture firm working on hospitals, housing, and public buildings. GRAU partners with Groupe 6 on CHRU Nancy and the Lanne hospital projects, making it a directly comparable French practice with similar public-sector focus.

Broad incumbents

• MVRDV: Internationally recognized Dutch architecture firm with strong urban design and master planning portfolio. Comparable to GRAU in the urban transformation and large-scale territorial strategy space, though at significantly larger scale and global reach.
• OMA: Rotterdam-based global architecture and urbanism firm with deep experience in cultural, civic, and large-scale urban transformation projects. Comparable to GRAU in urban design philosophy but at much broader scale and project breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grau

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 Grau