Office Zola architectes emerged in 2018 in Nantes, France, as the culmination of a shared journey by Laure Gahéry and Édouard Guyard, two architects who, after several years of independent practice in various French cities, decided to found their firm based on a common vision of architecture.
The origins of this collaboration date back to 2009, when Laure and Édouard met during an Erasmus exchange program at the Higher Technical School of Architecture of the University of Granada, in Spain. That encounter, marked by cultural and academic exchange, laid the foundation for an architectural dialogue that would eventually evolve into a joint professional project.
Since its founding, Office Zola architectes has developed projects of diverse scales and programs, encompassing facilities, offices, housing, and commercial spaces. The studio's practice is characterized by a meticulous attention to construction quality, a focus on architectural detail, and the use of drawing as a fundamental tool for thought and design, with the aim of creating buildings with enduring formal expression that are deeply respectful of their surroundings.
Laure Gahéry, born in 1986 in France, trained as an architect at ENSA Bretagne (École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Bretagne) in Rennes. Her academic background was enriched by an international experience at the University of Granada, where she met Édouard Guyard. Before founding Office Zola, Laure worked at various firms: Laurent Lagadec in Rennes, and CANAL and LA in Paris, gaining experience on projects of varying scales and typologies that solidified her professional approach.
Édouard Guyard, born in 1983 in France, pursued his architectural training in both France and Spain. Like Laure, his time at the ETSA (School of Architecture) of the University of Granada in 2009 was pivotal both personally and professionally. He also continued his studies at the École d’architecture Paris-Malaquais, part of PSL University. Before founding Office Zola, Édouard worked in various agencies in Paris and other French cities, where he built a solid professional experience.
