Coldefy is an international architecture and urbanism practice that has offices settled in Lille, Paris and Shanghai. With completed and ongoing projects around the world, the practice engages in private and public projects at all scales. Thomas Coldefy and Isabel Van Haute created the studio Coldefy in 2006. In the same year, they were selected as winners of the international competition to build the Hong Kong Design Institute, surpassing 162 competing teams. This project embodied the core design philosophy of the office. It envisioned a new pragmatism that integrates social and sensory experiences, individual and community dynamics, as well as circulation and programme influences.

Through this holistic approach, Coldefy established a living manifesto for sensitive architecture, encapsulating its values and propelling the studio to the forefront of international design firms in France. Presently, the studio has permanent offices in Lille, Paris, and Shanghai, with a team of around 50 collaborators engaged in projects across the globe. Led by an experienced and diverse leadership team, representing and working closely at the local, national, and international levels, the firm engages in public and private projects of all scales, spanning various domains including education, culture, sports, housing, commerce, and urban planning.

Finesse, monumentality, urbanity, and meticulous attention to details, the firm distinguishes its dynamism and creativity, rooted in sustainable and innovative practices aligned with today’s and tomorrow’s environmental challenges. Coldefy has won several major international competitions, including the Hong Kong Design Institute, the renovation of the European Parliament in Brussels, the National Pulse Memorial & Museum in Orlando, and most recently, the French Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. Coldefy’s contributions have been acknowledged by numerous architectural awards. In 2022, recognising their dedication and impact on the architectural landscape in France and across the globe, the Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, bestowed upon Thomas Coldefy the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.