PHARO

Overview

PHARO is a cooperative (SCOP) of architects and urban planners based in Le Mans, co-managed by Rémi Hersant and Ingrid Ory, with further offices near Angers and in Nantes. It took its current form in 2019, when two Le Mans practices, Pièces Montées (started by Fabienne Paumier in 1993) and Architour, joined forces. Its work covers social and student housing, schools, medico-social buildings and offices; the conversion of a former telephone exchange into a student residence in Le Mans won a regional timber construction prize in 2021.

Founded

1993

Team

≈ 15

Projects

5

Awards

2

Fabienne Paumier set up the practice in Le Mans in 1993 (named Pièces Montées from 2002); it joined forces with Architour (founded 2004) and became the cooperative PHARO in 2019.

Other offices: La Possonnière (Angers area) · Nantes

Partners and founders

Fields of work

Social and student housing · Schools · Medico-social facilities · Offices and workplaces · Urban planning

Built work

Prizes and awards

• 2025Prix Aperçus Sarthe, public prize (winter greenhouse and attic conversion)
• 2021Pays de la Loire Regional Timber Construction Prize, laureate, housing rehabilitation (Résidence Pasteur)