Face à Face

What Face à Face does

Face à Face is a Geneva-based architecture studio (Atelier d'Architecture Sarl) founded in 1999 by François Anex and Stéphane Nydegger, operating as a private SARL since April 2016 with Stéphane Nydegger as the responsible director and Laurent Jaques as associate. The firm provides full architectural services spanning preliminary studies, architectural competitions, new construction, renovation, transformation, and execution direction, serving clients across public administration, real estate development, and industrial sectors in the Geneva region.

Its core offering is professional architectural design with an explicit focus on energy performance and sustainable construction, including MINERGIE P-ECO certified projects (Pavillon, 2003-2009) and heritage-listed renovations (Motta, 1910 neoclassical building, 2010-2012). Two team members hold master's degrees in energy and sustainable development in the built environment (2012), providing domain specialization that differentiates the firm among small Geneva practices. The documented portfolio also includes industrial facilities (Champ-Colin, 5,000m², Nyon), mixed-use residential developments (Caillat), commercial interiors (Speno), and childcare/administrative transformations (Eve Clair-Martin, Acacias 78).

The business model is professional services: fees are derived from project-based commissions for design, planning, and construction management, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Revenue is generated through direct engagement via architectural competitions, public tenders, and repeat client commissions. The firm operates with approximately nine team members from a single headquarters at 60 rue de Vermont, Geneva, with no disclosed funding rounds, subsidiaries, or parent company structure.

Name

Face à Face

Legal name

Face à Face Atelier d'Architecture Sarl

Website

https://faceaface.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Face à Face is a Geneva-based architecture studio providing full architectural services — including design, renovation, transformation, and new construction — for public administration, real estate developers, and industrial clients in the Geneva region, with specialization in MINERGIE P-ECO energy standards and heritage building renovation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Professional architecture services including full project services (prestations complètes), execution phase services, and architectural direction. Revenue generated through consulting fees for design, planning, and construction management across renovation, transformation, and new construction projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Face à Face is a Geneva-based architecture studio (Atelier d'Architecture SARL) providing full architectural design and project management services for renovations, transformations, and new construction across residential, commercial, administrative, childcare, and industrial sectors. The firm delivers end-to-end services including studies, competitions, full project services (prestations complètes), execution phase services, and architectural direction, with specialized expertise in MINERGIE P-ECO energy performance and sustainable construction.

Product overview

Face à Face is an architecture studio (Atelier d'Architecture SARL) providing full architectural services across renovation, transformation, and new construction projects. The firm operates across multiple sectors including administration, office creation and layout, individual and collective housing, early childhood facilities, and industry. Their portfolio includes completed projects such as the MINERGIE P-ECO certified Pavillon residential building, the Champ-Colin industrial/artisan building, the heritage-listed Motta renovation, and the Speno activity buildings. Ongoing projects include the Eve Clair-Martin daycare transformation. The studio emphasizes energy performance and sustainable development, with two team members holding master's degrees in energy and sustainable built environment (2012).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Services Full-service architectural design covering studies, competitions, new construction, renovation, transformation, and execution direction for residential, commercial, administrative, childcare, and industrial projects. Delivered as complete (prestations complètes) or execution-phase (phase exécution et direction architecturale) engagements.
• Pavillon (MINERGIE P-ECO Residential Building) Full architectural services (prestations complètes) for the construction of a MINERGIE P-ECO certified residential housing building at 12, rue des Pavillons, Geneva, for the client La CIGUE.
• Champ-Colin (Industrial and Artisan Building) Full architectural services (prestations complètes) for a 5,000m2 industrial and artisan building at Route de Champ-Colin 12-18, 1260 Nyon, for client Sonia Investment SA.
• Motta (Heritage Building Renovation) Execution phase and architectural direction services for the renovation and transformation of existing housing in a heritage-classified neoclassical building (1910) at 20, avenue Giuseppe Motta, 1202 Geneva, for the Ville de Genève.
• Speno (Industrial Activity Buildings Interior Layout) Full architectural services (prestations complètes) for the interior layout of 3 activity buildings at 94 route du Nant-D'avril, 1217 Meyrin, for client Speno International SA.
• ACACIAS 78 (Office Floor Renovation) Full architectural services (prestations complètes SIA 102) for the renovation of the 1st and 6th floors at Route des Acacias 78-82, Geneva, for client OCBA État de Genève.
• Caillat (Mixed Residential and Commercial Development) New construction project combining housing buildings (PPE, HM, LUP) and activity buildings on the street front in Meyrin, for client m3 Real Estate.
• Eve Clair-Martin (Daycare Transformation and Expansion) Transformation and expansion of a daycare facility (crèche) within an administrative building EVE Clair Martin for the Ville de Lancy, with ongoing project phases.
• Actaris (Urban Development Competition) Architectural competition entry (2nd prize) creating a new urban piece in Aïre, Geneva, submitted jointly with collinfontaine architectes for the Commune d'Aïre.
• Modulaire (Modular Housing Study) Study and competition project exploring modular habitat potential, developed in partnership with Cooperative La CIGUE and L'HABRIK.

Named customers8 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KAL SAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil engineering partner for Pavillon project (MINERGIE P-ECO residential building, 2003-2009). Provided structural engineering expertise.
• PUTALLAZ Ingénieurs ConseilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultancy partner for Pavillon project. Provided civil engineering services for MINERGIE P-ECO residential construction.
• HRS Entreprise généralecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral contractor partnership for Caillat project (mixed residential and commercial development, 2005-2016). Collaborative delivery of new construction project.
• collinfontaine architectescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural association partner for Actaris competition project (2017). Joint submission for urban development competition in Aïre, Geneva.
• Atelier Descombes Rampini saminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for Actaris competition project. Provided site landscaping design services.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Frei & Saillard: Geneva-based architecture atelier of comparable size with a mixed portfolio of public, residential, and heritage-sensitive projects. Highly comparable peer in terms of scale, Geneva base, and full-service architectural delivery model.
• Lacroix Chessex: Geneva-based architecture studio focused on public and residential work with attention to sustainability and contextual design. Comparable in geography, scale, and project-type mix to Face à Face.
• Atelier Brodbeck & Roulet: Geneva-based architecture firm active in heritage renovation, public buildings, and mixed-use developments. Similar size and Geneva presence to Face à Face, with overlapping public-sector client work.
• Pont 12 Architectes: Romandie-based architecture firm working across housing, public facilities, and adaptive reuse. Comparable in terms of small-firm structure, multi-sector portfolio, and energy-conscious design practice.
• Lüscher Architectes: Geneva-based architecture studio with a comparable mix of residential, public, and renovation commissions. Closely comparable regional peer in size and service offering, though exact public profile is limited.
• collinfontaine architectes: Geneva-based architecture firm of comparable scale that has collaborated with Face à Face on competition submissions. Comparable in size and Romandie public-sector focus.

Broad incumbents

• Atelier Descombes Rampini: Established Geneva-based architecture firm with a broader portfolio spanning urban planning, public buildings, and landscape. Larger and more diversified than Face à Face, but operates in the same Geneva market and has partnered with Face à Face on the Actaris competition.
• Burkhalter Sumi Architekten: Swiss architecture firm with established practice in residential, public, and urban projects. Broader portfolio and larger team than Face à Face, but competes for similar public-sector commissions in Switzerland.
• Meili, Peter Architekten: Zurich-based Swiss architecture firm with projects in public, residential, and education sectors. Broader incumbent in the Swiss architecture market with overlapping public-sector client types.
• Diener & Diener Architekten: Basel-based Swiss architecture practice active across residential, cultural, and public buildings. Significantly larger firm operating in the broader Swiss architectural market with comparable typology mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Face à Face