Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés - Tour de Antananarivo, 2021

Founded in the 1980s, Brenac & Gonzalez was born from the meeting of Olivier Brenac, an urban planner trained at the École des Ponts et Chaussées, and Xavier Gonzalez, who trained under Tadao Ando. Later joined by Jean-Pierre Lévêque, Emmanuel Person, and Guillaume Maréchaux, they developed a collective, multidisciplinary practice that embraces experimentation and rejects formal dogma. Their approach is rooted in a sensitive reading of architecture, seeking to reconcile contemporary demands with the lasting qualities of materials and places.

Their signature is distinguished by meticulous attention to light, materials, and textures, giving each project a strong sensory dimension. Pleated metal, terracotta, concrete, and glass are carefully employed to create dynamic façades that engage in dialogue with their surroundings. This philosophy is exemplified by the Higher Roch Tower in Montpellier, whose organic lines blend harmoniously into the urban landscape. By transforming complex programs into refined and sensitive architecture, Brenac & Gonzalez demonstrates that urban density can go hand in hand with quality of use, comfort, and genuine aesthetic richness.