PORTFOLIO
THOMAS GENDROT
thomas.gendrot@paris-malaquais.archi.fr
+33 (0)6 52 73 96 00
My name is Thomas, I graduated with a Master’s degree in architecture, with a Research mention and the highest honors from the Paris-Val de Seine School of Architecture (ENSAPVS). am currently seeking a position as an architect. Motivated and eager to learn, am constantly looking for new collaborations to leverage my skills and experiences in a dynamic role where I can contribute to planning and executing thoughtful while continuing to make meaningful impact in architectural design and creative art industries. In this portfolio, have selected some works, personal and professional that reflect my experiences over the past few years. Enjoy !
L’Atelier Architectes et Ingénieurs | Paris, FRANCE
Junior Architect | February-June 2024
I worked on two competitions for the regional conservatory of Reims and the health simulation center of Reunion Island by focusing on the graphics and the rendering.
IBUKU Studio | Bali, INDONESIA
Master Architectural Assistant | July-November 2023
Actively participated in the design of a bamboo family residence in Bali by contributing to the Schematic Design and Design Development phases.
ZStudio Architectes | Paris, FRANCE
Architecture Internship | March-June 2021
Refurbishment of the facade of a collective housing in Amiens. 3D Modeling for a collective housing project in Asnières-sur-Seine.
Double Hauteur | Paris, FRANCE
Editor-in-chief for a student newspaper | September-December 2020
Writing and organizing articles for a student newspaper.
Zanatta Architecte | Mougins, FRANCE
Bachelor Architectural Assistant | September 2020
Construction site monitoring for a villa on the French Riviera. Capability studies and sketchs for the extension of a pool house.
Union Rempart | Yun Shan Tun, CHINA
Site Internship| July 2019
Reconstruction work on a damaged roof for the conservation and refurbishment of a rural traditional Ming house.
DISTINCTIONS
Young Architect Competition | Bologna, ITALY
International Competition| February 2024
Finalist under the theme «Spaces for Fashion»
SKILLS
Organisation
Team Work
Creative Thinking
Problem Solving
ENSAPM | Paris, FRANCE
HMONP| 2024-2025
Habilitation à la maitrise d’oeuvre en son nom propre
ENSAPVS | Paris, FRANCE
Master in Architecture | 2021-2024
DEA - Research Mention and Highest Honors
Tokyo University | Tokyo, JAPAN
International Workshop | February 2023
« Reconnecting Takanawa » by the KUMALab
Seoul National University | Seoul, SOUTH KOREA
International Exchange | March-June 2022
Exchange on new themes and different architectural approaches
Ecole Polytechnique | Palaiseau, FRANCE
Double Practice in Project Management | September-December 2021
MIE Department Innovation management and entrepreneurship
ENSAPVS | Paris, FRANCE
Bachelor in Architecture | 2017-2021
DEEA - Bachelor report on reuse for the Chinese heritage
Groupe Scolaire Sophie Barat | Chatenay-Malabry, FRANCE
General Scientific Baccalaureate | 2014-2017
BAC General Scientific with Physics-Chemistry Major
Public Speaking LANGAGES
Exhibition of the best End Study Project of 2023 | Paris, FRANCE
ENSAPVS| October 2023
Selected and exposed among the 49 best end-of-study project of 2023
SOFTWARES
Pack Mac/ Office
Handcraft Model
3D Print Model
Hand Drawing
International Driving Car Licence
ACADEMIC WORKS
1. REVEALING THE MOUNTAIN
Between Origin and Horizon
2. EMERGING CITIES
Sense of Community
3. THE HIGH COURT
Over our heads
PROFESSIONAL WORKS
4. L’ATELIER Architectes et Ingénieurs
Medical University of Indian Ocean - Regional Conservatory of Reims
5. STUDIO IBUKU Blumbungan, the Bamboo Residence
6. UNION REMPART
Reuse for the Chinese Heritage
SELECTED EXTRAS
REVEALING THE MOUNTAIN
Between Origin and Horizon
INFO Type: Heritage - Landscape - Territory
Location: Sekmodo Island, SOUTH KOREA
Year: March/June 2023 - Final Project Research Mention
Teacher: S. BOUFFLET
Softwares: ArchiCAD, Rhino, Adobe, QGis
Located on the mountainside of Seokmodo Island, the site is situated in the Ganghwa region to the west of Seoul, in South Korea. Characterized by mountains and tidal flats, its attractiveness stems from tourism as well as agricultural and fishery production. Facing southwest towards the sea, the chosen site is an abandoned granite quarry, a 20-minute walk from a Buddhist temple named Bomunsa. Positioned within a network of hiking trails, the site is split in distinct levels, with the summit featuring a pine plantation and terraced landscapes. Two guiding principles have informed the project:
«Healing» the mountain: Viewing the scar on the landscape as an opportunity, the project seeks to address this wound in the relief. Through an in-situ protocol, understanding the mountain’s role as a source has been a crucial means of defining a trajectory between origin and horizon, from the mountain to the sea. The intervention is in continuity with the existing landscape to avoid disrupting the ongoing natural restoration efforts. The guiding approach is one of «Non-Doing Action,» applicable to both nature and architecture.
«Telling» a story: Creating a cultural center of experiences around «Daemokjang,» the art of traditional Korean wooden architecture. With significant urbanization in recent decades, wooden architecture has had limited opportunities to develop and integrate into the contemporary Korean landscape. Previously exploited for concrete construction, the newly restored site encourages wooden construction through educational workshops. It aims to showcase this intangible heritage by offering a journey through the mountain, fostering a connection between the past and the present.
The Daemokjang: Intangible Heritage of Traditional Korean Wooden Architecture, from artcraft to architecture
EMMERGING CITIES Sense of Community
INFO
Type: Housing- Urban Fabric - Low Tech
Location: Saint-Laurent du Maroni, FRENCH GUYANA
Year: September/ January 2021 - Master 1
Teachers: M-C. PIOT-ASSFAR, H. DUBOIS, S. BLONDIOT
Softwares: ArchiCAD, Adobe, Twinmotion, Procreate
Inspired by the PUCA competition, the project site is located along the Maroni River, in Saint-Laurent du Maroni, in French Guyana. In a worrying context between exponential population growth and unsanitary housing conditions, the project aims to transform the wasteland of the Chinese Village into a new living district, capable of accommodating this growing population and resilient to the tropical climate’s challenges.
Embracing the Native urban typology, the urban strategy was to create central spaces that bring together the different Guyanese mixed communities. From this concentric village idea, three distinct villages are emerging: a student housing village near the future university, a community village and a craftsmen’s village ending at the tip of the site, with the relocated market square. Each village was designed with a common focus on centrality, featuring the Carbet as a unifying architectural element, shared by all communities in the French Guyana.
My personal contribution involved developing the central part of the site, which includes four sets of stilted dwellings to avoid flood risks. These individual dwellings are united around a large common roof and a central Carbet. In response to the economic and demographic situation, these homes are designed to be expandable, modular, and self-built using local and bio-sourced materials such as wood and rushes. Finally, a large Carbet facing the river provides a dedicated area for Guyanese children.
Natives, Hmongs, Bushinengés, Créoles, Europeans A mixed community
Rush Angélique wood Palm tree leaves woven
Bamboo
THE HIGH COURT
Over our heads
INFO Type: Civic - Urban Fabric - High Tech
Location: Paris, FRANCE
Year: February/ June 2021 - Bachelor 3
Teachers: S. CHIRAT, E. CHOUPIS
Softwares: ArchiCAD, Adobe, Twinmotion, Procreate
Inspired by a public competition, the future Tribunal de Grande Instance of Paris is set on the site of the historical Freyssinet hall, now converted into a startup hub. The administration of justice is a complex and extensive program that follows specific practices, a functional organization, and efficient flow management. Additionally, some efforts were made to redefine a contemporary architectural language of justice.
As the project is integrated into this historic hall, it revolves around the existing structure with a total and independent framework that surrounds and protects the existing building. This structure ends up with an office tower that serves as a landmark in the urban landscape, situated between the BNF (Bibliothèque Nationale de France/ National French Library) existing towers that defines the Seine quays skyline. The hall opens onto a vast atrium that distributes the lateral civil courtrooms.
The leading concept was to create distinct and symbolic courtrooms compared to the rest of the building. Floating «copper pebbles» above the hall symbolize the place of justice above men. Access to and distribution of these upper courtrooms are facilitated by a network of elevators from the public interior space of the hall. A sovereign justice above the city, above the buildings, above men.
L’ATELIER Architectes et Ingénieurs
Medical University of Indian Ocean - Regional Conservatory of Reims
INFO Type: Hospital - Education - Bioclimate
Location: Paris, FRANCE
Year: February/ June 2024
Softwares: ArchiCAD, Revit, Lumion, Adobe
Specialized in bioclimatic architecture, L’Atelier architects & engineers is an agency based on Réunion Island, bringing together the necessary skills to develop a project with a complete approach: architectural design, technical engineering, and economic project management. From the Paris office, contributed to the submission of two competitions, one for the new medical school of the Indian Ocean and the other for the extension of the Reims Conservatory.
For the new medical university of the Indian Ocean, was responsible for the graphic rendering and the coherence of the documents presented for the final boards. This hospital project is situated in an urbanized context, featuring bioclimatic façades, adapted to the tropical conditions and sunlights on Réunion Island.
I actively participated in the design choices and aesthetic integration of the extension of the Regional Conservatory of Reims, considering the constraints set by the city. These studies led to archaeological excavations that influenced our architectural intervention. This extension is situated within the existing courtyard to provide two new theater classrooms and a new dance classroom. Special attention was given to the glass façade to ensure it dynamically reflects the existing building.
IBUKU STUDIO
Blumbungan, The Bamboo Residence
INFO Type: Housing - Landscape - Sustainability
Location: Bali, INDONESIA
Year: July/November 2023 - Master 2
Softwares: Revit, Rhino, Sketchup, Procreate
IBUKU is a studio specializing in bamboo design, based in Bali, Indonesia. I worked alongside Elora HARDY, a self-taught architect who was able to share her vision of sustainable architecture with me. During this experience, I worked on a family residence located in Bali, not far from the office, along the Ayung River. The site, with a slight slope towards a cliff, includes six buildings which are a large living space, a “Neverland” space for children, a parental space, a gym studio, an office, and a guesthouse.
Initially, I was responsible for designing the library space located in the main building. With specific constraints, the developed concept was to imagine the shape of this space as a reflection of the river’s movement, a fluid, dancing mass. This dynamic form considers the main view of the river while creating an enclosed space with distinct funtional areas. I also contributed to the choice of materials by applying the appropriate structural principles according to the situations.
In the second phase, I continued to further develop the schematic design and evolution of the project by going into details, focusing on the technical and construction aspects through sketches, dimensioning of various elements, and constant dialogue with suppliers and project collaborators.
UNION REMPART
Reuse for the Chinese Heritage
INFO Type: Restoration - Heritage - Reuse
Location: Yun Shan Tun, CHINA
Year: July 2019/ December 2021 - Bachelor 1/ Master 1
During my site internship, I had the opportunity to participate in a workcamp in China during the summer of 2019. This experience, which involved rehabilitating a traditional Ming house into an educational space, had a lasting impact on my studies. gained valuable knowledge about traditional Chinese carpentry and was introduced to teamwork and construction site organization.
For my bachelor’s report, delved into the topic of heritage conservation in the Chinese context. Building on my personal experience onsite, explored the role of reuse in the conservation of Chinese heritage. This approach is particularly crucial for safeguarding rural heritage in China, where funding is often insufficient.
In my first year of the Master, participated in a seminar focused on using contemporary architecture to revitalize Chinese rural territories, specifically on the case of Songyang Valley, in Zhejiang province. The study group examined various projects from DnA Studio, available on the website “village.chinois.wixsite.com”.
SELECTED EXTRAS
For learning more about my works
UP STREAM | Biella, ITALY
YAC Competition| 2024
Led by the Cervo river that runs through the town of Biella, this refurbishing work celebrates Biella’s textile history. As with water reflection effects, mirror elements are used to highlight the existing industrial architecture and offers an open space between art exhibitions and natural landscape.
RECONNECTING TAKANAWA | Tokyo, JAPAN
International Workshop| 2023 - Master 2
At Tokyo University, chaired by Kengo KUMA and the KumaLab, this workshop was interested in urban concept around Takanawa Station. Reflecting the initial Takanawa coastline, which had been urbanized by the Japanese rail network, this new city layer built above the rails, structured by huge masts, offers views on the Tokyo Bay.
From the kitchen to the street | Seoul, SOUTH KOREA
Researches | 2022-2023 - Master 2
Through my master’s thesis, was interested in the spatial evolution of meals in Seoul influenced by the street food phenomenon. The research questioned the place of the domestic kitchen and eating habits in an urban context. Sensitive to the way of consumption, this approach is necessary for the design process for the future kitchens.
ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL | Paris, FRANCE
Project | 2019 - Bachelor 3
Created from the emptiness, this work started by sculpting an empty volume from the inside, led by a work of light and openings. From this abstract design process, a central, unifying and vertical shared space emerges and defines several solid elements fulfilled by the architecture school program.
WATER GARDEN | Paris, FRANCE
Project | 2019 - Bachelor 2
Located in La Villette Park, this architectural intervention aims to create a public swimming pool and develops the nautical activities. Designed as a « Water Garden », a succession of phytopurification swimming pools evokes a swampy landscape where nature takes back over the city.
WOVEN ROOF | Paris, FRANCE
Structures | 2018 - Bachelor 2
The purpose of this exercise was to design a roof structure made up of paper and glue. This object must support a maximum weight while not exceeding 350g itself. Our group team worked on a triangulated structure, covered with a fine paper bands weave pattern.
