Studio
Thomas Coldefy and Isabel Van Haute are the young duo of Coldefy & Associates Architects Urban Planners (CAAU), leading the diverse international team based in Lille, France.
The firm is characterized by their dynamism and creativity, animated by an international tropism that drives them to participate regularly in professional events around the world as well as in large international competitions. Their originality and resourcefulness have brought them success in a number of entries, including the Hong Kong Design Institute which they won in 2006 against 162 teams. As a result of this success the firm has opened an office in Hong Kong where the architects now visit regularly.
The firm’s international activity extends beyond Asia, having won the international conference center in Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso in 2009, the Public Service Hall in Kobuleti, Georgia in 2012, and was awarded the silver prize for the IDA awards 2012.
In France, CAAU continues to develop a number of projects, notably at the heart of the Lille metropolitan area where they won the competition for a mixed-use building in Euralille. Additionally, they won the Lucie Aubrac secondary school in Tourcoing, the first ‘BBC’ rated low-energy building in region. Finally, associated with Steven Holl, they were one of the five finalist teams in the international competition for the Louvre II in Lens.
The firm distinguishes itself with an open and innovative spirit acquired in high-quality international offices, particularly in the United States. Their project method employs extreme consideration to the site, an urban culture concerned with the appropriate density and diversity, as well as a conceptualization process where the various project factors are continually brought together to the point of overlap.
Henceforth positioned as a young firm not to be overlooked, the office strives to develop collaborations with the best public and private clients in both France and abroad.
Thomas Coldefy and Isabel Van Haute
Approach
Attentiveness to the quality of public space, an attuned pursuit for the harmony between context, landscape and building, and a respect for the program and economy of means are the defining predispositions of Coldefy and associates. This approach is based on the environmental, urban and social contexts of a project that forms its image and identity.
The rigorous approach is a crossbreeding of the search for simple, convivial urban events, traces of humanity and a sense of dialogue with all the actors of the project: the client, but also the collaborating engineers and enterprises.
This dialogue is guided by a priority objective: to respond to the function while simultaneously providing a certain quality of life to the users. Rejecting anecdote and exuberance, the studio pursuits nevertheless to create surprise; all the while exploring the correctness of solutions. For them, a building must be legible, sensitive, resonating and innovative. In order to change habits, it must also push certain limits
Awards
Green Building Award (June 2012)
The Hong Kong Institute receives Merit Award, organized by the Hong Kong Green Building Council.
AFEX (2012)
CAAU awarded the 'palmares' for the Grand Prix AFEX and exhibited at the Venice Biennial for HKDI.
'Terra Cotta Prize' (2012)
CAAU awarded the 'Terra Cotta Prize' for housing in Lille-Hellemmes, France.
International Design Awards (February 2012)
CAAU awarded the IDA Silver Award, to be received in Los Angeles in 2013
'Pyramide d’Argent' Prize (April 2011)
CAAU has won with the residential and office building 'Arboretum' in Lille, organized by the northern France Developers committee.
'Pyramide d’Or' Prize (April 2011)
CAAU has been selected to run for the National.
'40 under 40' Asia Prize (2011)
Organized by Perspective, Valcucine et Demode
'40 under 40' European Prize (2010)
Organized by European Centre for architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and The Chicago Athenaeum
'Spécial Hiver' Prize (2009)
Organized by ESA Paris
'Tour Eiffel' Prize (2007)
Organized by ESA Paris
APIDA Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards (2007)
Jury Member
