Roland Castro & Sophie Denissof Architects Paris, French architecture studio, France buildings

Roland Castro & Sophie Denissof, France

Contemporary French architects practice. Former design studio based in Paris: Information

post updated 28 Mar 2026

Roland Castro & Sophie Denissof – Key Projects

Featured Building by this French design studio:

Seguin Island redevelopment, Renault site, Paris, France
Date built: –

More architecture projects by Atelier Castro Denissof Casi Architecture & Urbanisme online soon

Location: Paris, France, Europe

Roland Castro & Sophie Denissof Practice Information

Atelier Castro Denissof Casi Architecture & Urbanisme based in Paris, France

Au 32 bd de Ménilmontant, Paris 20e

This architecture practice is now inactive. Their website is not working when checked on 14th March 2020, and their facebook does not appear to have been updated since 2016. Readers comments welcome.

Office Information:

Photo of the architect taken 21 October 2019:

photo : Jacques Paquier, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Roland has shared his knowledge and values for more than forty years with his associates who have joined him over time: Sophie Denissof in 1988, Gérald Heulluy and Marie-Hélène Hours in 2012, Silvia Casi in 2005, today now a consultant – and all of its team, around twenty architects and town planners.

The Castro Denissof Associés workshop defends projects that place the concept of urbanity at the heart of the design: an approach that crosses the different scales of the city, territories, metropolises, according to the principle of urbanizing architecture and which s ” is based on a sensitive approach, where each place is unique and contributes to the identity of the territory in which it is located.

Since the 1990s, he has been developing the remodeling of large complexes, an innovative approach with the ambition of transforming uses and image for the benefit of residents.

The domestic and appropriative qualities of the habitat respond to the commonly shared desire to invest in one’s home like a house.

source: http://www.castro-denissof.com/en/workshop/atelier/

Atelier Castro‑Denissof Associés, Paris

Atelier Castro‑Denissof Associés was an architectural and urban design firm co‑founded in 1988 by Roland Castro and Sophie Denissof, originally known as Atelier Castro‑Denissof before later iterations of the agency name. The practice became known for its city‑making projects and socially‑engaged urban interventions in France.

Design Philosophy:

The firm’s work was grounded in a strong belief that architecture and urbanism should go beyond isolated buildings to remodel and rejuvenate existing urban fabric, particularly in large housing estates and neglected neighborhoods. Their approach often involved transforming rather than demolishing — a concept they referred to as “remodelage” (remodeling) — with the aim of reconnecting urban spaces with social life and dignity.

Both Castro and Denissof shared a commitment to architecture that could help reveal local identities, renew urban images, and enhance quality of habitation. Denissof, in particular, articulated this focus through her writings and urban thought, emphasizing how architectural interventions could make places more hospitable and pleasurable to inhabit.

Notable Work:

During their collaboration, the office worked on a range of projects, particularly in the Paris region and other French cities:

– Les Villages de l’Arche, La Défense – a mixed‑use complex combining plazas, offices, and landscaped spaces as part of the broader La Défense district redevelopment.

– Colisée Gardens, Courbevoie – an urban office building that helps define its street edge while contributing to neighbourhood continuity.

Their work extended beyond individual buildings into urban planning initiatives, including participation in the Grand Pari(s) metropolitan design competition, where Castro and Denissof’s team developed strategic urban concepts for the Paris region’s future growth.