Partner architects
Thomas Ducher and Geoffrey Desplaces
Desplaces Ducher designs grounded projects that draw their identity from the history of each site and from local urban development.
The practice brings together the complementary experience and skills of its two partners: collective housing, urban design, public buildings, refurbishment and site supervision.
Having worked for many years on adapting territories and construction methods to the new climate regime, Desplaces Ducher devises the most appropriate solutions to make each project as efficient as possible.
Approach
Grounding, inhabiting, transforming
We develop a sensitive and committed architecture, rooted in its site and founded on the history of places and on local resources.
Both from Burgundy, our paths crossed on the construction site of the Musée national de la Marine in Paris, which we were overseeing for Snøhetta and h2o respectively. In 2024, building on our complementary experience, we decided to join forces and founded Desplaces Ducher.
Collective housing is at the heart of our practice
We mainly design housing projects, with particular attention to their integration in settings beyond the major cities – medium-sized towns, suburbs, village centres, rural areas – where social, economic and environmental issues call for frugal, appropriate and lasting answers. We work to reveal the intrinsic identity of each place and to propose ways of living that strengthen the bond with the territory.
A lasting, local commitment
We pay close attention to the constructive rationality of our buildings, aiming for economy of means and adaptation to climate change, favouring compactness and local materials.
Rooted between Burgundy, Paris and Occitanie, we cultivate an architecture of proximity, based on a detailed knowledge of territories and a pragmatic commitment on the ground.
Practising and passing on know-how
Transforming and adapting what already exists, designing in urban, peri-urban or rural settings: we put into practice the experience gained through past collaborations on complex and varied programmes within demanding practices.
We nurture this theoretical and empirical knowledge through our work alongside other practices and those who build the project, and we pass it on through teaching in architecture schools and within our own practice, ensuring its continuity and evolution.
We develop a sensitive and committed architecture, rooted in its site and founded on the history of places and on local resources.
Both from Burgundy, our paths crossed on the construction site of the Musée national de la Marine in Paris, which we were overseeing for Snøhetta and h2o respectively. In 2024, building on our complementary experience, we decided to join forces and founded Desplaces Ducher.
Collective housing is at the heart of our practice
We mainly design housing projects, with particular attention to their integration in settings beyond the major cities – medium-sized towns, suburbs, village centres, rural areas – where social, economic and environmental issues call for frugal, appropriate and lasting answers. We work to reveal the intrinsic identity of each place and to propose ways of living that strengthen the bond with the territory.
A lasting, local commitment
We pay close attention to the constructive rationality of our buildings, aiming for economy of means and adaptation to climate change, favouring compactness and local materials.
Rooted between Burgundy, Paris and Occitanie, we cultivate an architecture of proximity, based on a detailed knowledge of territories and a pragmatic commitment on the ground.
Practising and passing on know-how
Transforming and adapting what already exists, designing in urban, peri-urban or rural settings: we put into practice the experience gained through past collaborations on complex and varied programmes within demanding practices.
We nurture this theoretical and empirical knowledge through our work alongside other practices and those who build the project, and we pass it on through teaching in architecture schools and within our own practice, ensuring its continuity and evolution.
Geoffrey Desplaces
State-registered architect (DE)
Licensed to practise in his own name (HMONP)
Director of studies – HMONP programme – École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Versailles since 2020
Licensed to practise in his own name (HMONP)
Director of studies – HMONP programme – École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Versailles since 2020
A graduate of the École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Versailles in 2012, Geoffrey gained experience on housing, public building and urban planning projects with Odile Decq, Dominique Perrault, Coop Himmelb(l)au (Austria), François Leclercq, Frédéric Borel and Snøhetta. In 2016 he founded GDA, a practice through which he developed projects and research on the contemporary transformations of rural and metropolitan territories. He organised his practice between Paris, Burgundy and Occitanie, with the construction of a first project of 75 homes in Cornebarrieu. He met Thomas Ducher on the construction site of the Musée national de la Marine, where he was working for Snøhetta. In 2024, GDA became Desplaces Ducher.
Career
since 2024 – DESPLACES DUCHER – PARIS-BURGUNDY-OCCITANIE
2016 – FOUNDED GDA – PARIS-FLEY
2021-2024 – SNØHETTA – PARIS
2012-2015 – FRÉDÉRIC BOREL ARCHITECTE – PARIS
2012 – FRANÇOIS LECLERCQ ARCHITECTES URBANISTES – PARIS
2010 – COOP HIMMELB(L)AU – VIENNA (AUSTRIA)
2009 – DOMINIQUE PERRAULT ARCHITECTURE – PARIS
2008 – ODILE DECQ & BENOÎT CORNETTE ARCHITECTES URBANISTES – PARIS
2016 – FOUNDED GDA – PARIS-FLEY
2021-2024 – SNØHETTA – PARIS
2012-2015 – FRÉDÉRIC BOREL ARCHITECTE – PARIS
2012 – FRANÇOIS LECLERCQ ARCHITECTES URBANISTES – PARIS
2010 – COOP HIMMELB(L)AU – VIENNA (AUSTRIA)
2009 – DOMINIQUE PERRAULT ARCHITECTURE – PARIS
2008 – ODILE DECQ & BENOÎT CORNETTE ARCHITECTES URBANISTES – PARIS
Thomas Ducher
State-registered architect (DE)
Licensed to practise in his own name (HMONP)
Director of studies – HMONP programme – École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Versailles since 2024
Licensed to practise in his own name (HMONP)
Director of studies – HMONP programme – École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Versailles since 2024
A graduate of the École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Saint-Étienne in 2007, Thomas gained his experience on complex programmes with Pierre Vurpas, Bernard Tschumi, Patrick Berger and h2o architectes. He notably led the design studies for the Alésia archaeological museum, the design and construction of the Paris Zoological Park (Vincennes) and the site supervision of the Châtelet-Les Halles station. With a keen interest in working with existing buildings, he oversaw the entire renovation of the Musée national de la Marine in the Palais de Chaillot in Paris for h2o architectes over seven years, from design studies to site management. In 2023 he joined Geoffrey Desplaces’s practice, becoming his partner in 2024.
Career
since 2024 – DESPLACES DUCHER – PARIS-BURGUNDY-OCCITANIE
2017-2023 – H2O ARCHITECTES – PARIS
2016-2017 – PATRICK BERGER ARCHITECTES – PARIS
2010-2015 – BERNARD TSCHUMI ARCHITECTES – PARIS
2009-2010 – VURPAS ARCHITECTES – LYON
2017-2023 – H2O ARCHITECTES – PARIS
2016-2017 – PATRICK BERGER ARCHITECTES – PARIS
2010-2015 – BERNARD TSCHUMI ARCHITECTES – PARIS
2009-2010 – VURPAS ARCHITECTES – LYON