AW² is all over the place

Based in Paris, with offices in Geneva and Montpellier, and a partner office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, AW² is the epitome of an international agency that carries out architecture and design projects all over the world. The two partners, Reda Amalou and Stéphanie Ledoux, are personally involved in the architectural design of each project. The agency's playground is diverse and varied. Its projects range from luxury hotels to high-end interiors, including facilities, commercial and residential buildings.

For some, AW² is an architecture and design agency, but for the curious and knowledgeable, this little acronym hides a vast territory. This is a territory that covers several disciplines and leaves its mark as it travels. Is there a certain style? Do we notice a favourite material? There isn't one, or there are so many that a single word suffices to define the agency: versatility. Long discreet, AW² makes no secret of its appetite for a certain form of excellence, from sketches to details, based on sustainable and contextual architecture. Let's discover a few examples that make all the difference.

The Krug family home in Reims

AW² was commissioned to renovate the Krug family home in Reims. Designed to welcome guests, the house had to embody the essence of Krug Grande Cuvée, such as generosity, finesse, the expression of expertise and the pleasure of tasting. The architects incorporated these fundamentals into every aspect of their design. Today, all the spaces and furnishings transcend this excellence. However, from the outset, the architects noticed that the quality of the site lay in the enclosure formed by the adjoining houses around a garden waiting to be revealed. This idea became the cornerstone of the project and needed to be developed. It was necessary to create unity while respecting the identity of each building. This is a nod to the composition of Krug Grande Cuvée, which expresses the individuality of each of its wines in the perfect harmony of its blend. Upon entering, visitors find themselves in a refined world. The lounges, with their shimmering furniture colours, set the tone. Discretion, finesse and elegance are the order of the day. The tasting room is distinguished by a wall displaying 400 wines from which the cellar master selects the champagnes that will make up Krug Grande Cuvée. Artisans such as Claire Pegis for the glass and Biobject for the woodwork have contributed their expertise to achieve an exceptional result. Welcome to the renovation of the Krug family home.

The Krug lodge

After renovating and restructuring the Krug family home in Reims, the architects at AW² renovated a winegrowers' lodge for the Krug House in Trépail, a very small commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. Located on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the project pays tribute to the heritage and terroirs of the Champagne region. Once used to store vineyard tools or as a shelter during the grape harvest, lodges were simple structures which, despite their modest size, are still visible landmarks. In order to showcase this heritage, Maison Krug undertook the renovation of the lodge located on one of its plots. Reda Amalou and Stéphanie Ledoux have restored the existing structure, ensuring its authenticity and preserving the brick foundations, while adding a wooden belvedere with clean lines that sweep across the surrounding landscape. But as details always make the difference, it is worth highlighting the raw Burgundy stone counter, which is not only the central feature but also a nice nod to the chalk that is omnipresent in the Champagne region. The use of bio-based materials and the thermal performance of the renovated envelope have earned the project an HQE certification (Ed.: HQE stands for ‘Haute Qualité Environnementale’ or High Environmental Quality. This is a norm for green building in France). This is quite a challenge for a project that exudes discretion and grace.

Coucoo Cabanes

Ensuring a bioclimatic approach while embracing the context was the guiding principle for AW², which responded to the project with great humility. The aim was to create four cabins to complement the 25 existing ones in a natural environment. On a 150-hectare site in the village of Chassey-lès-Montbozon, in Franche-Comté (Ed.: a cultural and historical region of eastern France), Coucoo Cabanes works ‘to promote vibrant biodiversity and better interaction between humans and nature’. Given the shared vision between the client and AW², their collaboration was bound to be a success. Upon arrival at the Grands Lacs, visitors are struck by the atmosphere. They are confronted with a vast, generous and authentic landscape that is, in short, breathtaking. The tone is set, and visitors are in for a unique experience. Here, everything is designed to be in harmony with nature. Add to this the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, and everything is done to satisfy customers. AW²'s cabins stand out for their shape, surrounded by their protective shell. Designed to resemble a bud just before it bursts open, each cabin blends delicately into its surroundings. The shell opens slightly to reveal the interior spaces, which remain protected while opening up to the surroundings. This creates an interesting interplay between inside and outside for the user.

Let's take a look at the Roseau cabin, one of the agency's four designs. Nestled in its natural green surroundings, it consists primarily of a large terrace cleverly built on stilts. This allows you to enjoy the outdoors while being sheltered from the sun and rain, a bonus that the other cabins do not necessarily offer. The upper level is reached via a staircase that winds around like a ribbon, leading to the bedroom, which is naturally ventilated thanks to the large windows. The whole structure is topped by a Nordic bath, a place to connect with nature, where visitors can contemplate while listening to the sounds of the outdoors. But AW² didn't stop there. Not only is the furniture made of wood, but it was also specifically designed to blend in with the cabin's architecture. While the bed is in the centre, the sitting area features a simple curved bench and a coffee table. The washbasin is at the back, protected by the headboard. Opposite, the wardrobe and mirrored shelves of the dry toilet complete the ensemble. Thanks to the positioning of the lighting, the cabin lights up at night like a firefly. Despite the modest size of the project, the architects have thought of everything to offer comfort and well-being to the users of the space. The cabins, made from Douglas fir by MCF Bois, blend elegantly into their surroundings while protecting the natural environment. Visitors are treated to a wonderful experience!

Flims Surprada in Switzerland

The architects at AW² were commissioned to design eight collective dwellings in Flims Waldhaus in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Called Surprada, this 800 m² residential complex is built on a sloping site and reinterprets classic Alpine architecture with a contemporary twist, offering residents an exceptional project in harmony with the environment. The architects opted for a metal facade that creates a dialogue with the traditional wooden balconies. AW² designed the entire interior, where warm wood meets raw concrete and black gunmetal finishes to create a modern and soothing atmosphere. The different spaces are distinguished by their neutral tones and soft colour palette. The eight apartments feature open spaces, functional kitchens and generous living areas with wood-burning stoves. Spacious terraces complete each residence, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding area. Thanks to its strategic location, the complex offers easy access to hiking and cycling trails, ski slopes and the luxurious facilities of the nearby Waldhaus Flims Wellness Resort. The project includes innovative facilities such as the ‘Athletic and Climbing Loft’ with state-of-the-art facilities for mountain enthusiasts. Surprada has been designed and built according to eco-friendly criteria that reduce energy consumption while creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

4* hotel in Le Mans

On the initiative of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, creator and organiser of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a 4-star hotel on the edge of the 24-hour circuit will open in the spring of 2027. AW² has been commissioned to carry out the project. Located at the Esses de la Forêt corner, the hotel will be part of the economic and sporting dynamic of the South Pole. Led by Virage 5, a company bringing together mainly local private investors, this high-end hotel will have 104 rooms and suites, a restaurant and a large panoramic terrace offering an exclusive view of the Bugatti circuit and the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit. The first stone of the new hotel was laid on Monday 28 April 2025. This is a renovation of the existing building, a conversion and a promising transformation that the architects will carry out with skill.

The travels of Reda Amalou and Stéphanie Ledoux feed into their projects. These timeless designs are tailored to each context. The Six Senses Condao in Vietnam, the Kasiiya Papagayo in Costa Rica, the Banyan Tree Alula in Saudi Arabia, the Phum Baitang in Cambodia, the French Lycée in Amman, Jordan, the Six Senses Crans-Montana in Switzerland and the villa in Corsica are all diverse and divergent projects that require real expertise and exemplary adaptation. Like a chameleon, AW² has the ability to assimilate each of its users, however different they may be. And architecture comes out all the more triumphant!