h2o architectes is an office of creative architectural design also specializing in the restoration of ancient monuments. It is lead by three architects: Charlotte Hubert architect dipl. DPLG and historical preservation architect, Jean-Jacques Hubert architect dipl. DPLG founder of the office and Antoine Santiard architect dipl. EPFL who joined in 2008.
Established as a firm in 2005, the leading architects have had multiple collaborations since 2000. They have executed projects and won international competitions both as independent architects as well as for other major architects (Bruno Decaris, Jakob+MacFarlane, Bernard
Tschumi).
h2o works on a wide scope of projects and scales including historical
monuments and sites, urban planning, architecture and design. In all
projects, program development engages a team of experts from various
fields, constantly renewing the relationship between context / program,
use / material and precision research in innovative solutions. For
every question, numerous alternatives are considered stimulating a rich
and fruitful discussion with the client as well as a positive
correlation between all possible envisaged resolutions.
In every projects and at different scales the office intends to combine
a controled duality between a determinated possibility of uses and some
situations offering possibilities for appropriation. These somewhat
uncharted spaces allow for the invention of any kind of practices and customs, and therefore, for the modification of the individual’s place
in a more and more controlled social space.
The office has just been awarded the Najap Prize 2008 : a recognition of a selection of young European architects and landscape planners organised by the French ministry of culture and communication.
The office has also been recently selected by the international magazine Wallpaper* for their world architects directory 2009, a selection of the best 30 emerging practices.
Both Jean-Jacques Hubert and Antoine Santiard currently teach Architectural Design on a part time basis Mr. Hubert at ESAT, Superior Technical and Art School in Paris and Mr. Santiard at ENSAPM, National Superior Architectural School of Paris Malaquais.h2o architectes, Charlotte Hubert, Jean-Jaques Hubert, Antoine Santiard