L’Atelier

The conceptual approach of JFS Architectes follows a unique direction guided by architectural concepts such as the rigor of constructive principles, the rationality of flows and uses, and the integration of built volumes into the landscape.

The JFS Agency

The JFS Architectes adventure took its first turn in 2001 with the creation of the Jean-François Schmit studio in a “workshop” atmosphere. As the years passed, the portfolio expanded. Between technical centers and hangars, housing and workshops, middle schools and elementary schools, the programs were enriched with new uses, and a formal vocabulary emerged. Functional clarity of volumes, dynamic facade cladding, anchoring the building in its site, and enhancing landscape connections are some of the architectural principles developed. An art of client relations also took shape. As a true partner in the act of building, the Project Owner is involved in every stage of the operation. From the beginning, the bond of trust between client and Architect has remained the guarantee of quality architecture.

On these solid foundations, the studio became a SAS in 2019, led by a core of 6 partners. Since 2021, under Manuel’s presidency, Jean-Luc, Claire, and Raimundo now lead JFS Architectes, uniting complementary expertise and unifying visions. While following in the footsteps of its origins, this new generation gives the studio fresh momentum. Developing the railway sector to complement the aeronautical world, consolidating project modeling methods, and committing to an eco-responsible approach are all new challenges for the entity born in 2019. The relationship of trust developed with Project Owners and the expertise acquired in high-tech programs allow for the rapid development of the new agency. While the fruit of their collaboration has grown over the years, each partner has developed their own area of expertise while cultivating their unique history.

Photo credit: © Septet

Manuel Guinart

Originally from Valencia (Spain), Manuel Guinart attended the prestigious Polytechnic University there. Between the city’s futuristic architecture and high-value technical education, his path seemed clear. With an affinity for the functional essence of buildings and a taste for the structural dynamism of forms, his journey was destined to cross paths with industrial architecture. Thus, in 2008, he moved to France. New horizons emerged. After working on school, sports, and commercial facility projects for a Parisian firm, he joined JFS Architectes in 2012. The meeting was providential. The following year, he became a partner. Luxury, aerospace, and rail expanded his range of expertise. In 2021, the handover between Jean-François Schmit and his 5 partners was finalized. Manuel became the president of JFS Architectes. To his existing skills in designing complex projects, he added the management of development and communication.
Jean-Luc Dupanloup

From his native Haute-Savoie, Jean-Luc Dupanloup turned to neighboring Switzerland for his training. On the shores of Lake Geneva, he studied at the Geneva School of Art and Design. Keeping all perspectives open, he was introduced to creation at the intersection of design and applied arts, with a preference for construction processes. In a perfect transition, he began his architectural career with the Brancusi Museum and then on school facility projects. With Jean-François Schmit, he led the extension of the Gambetta middle school in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. From design to completion, he combines technical constraints with constructive elegance. This experience was then applied to numerous typologies: jet engine test benches, aerospace launcher integration buildings, and aircraft maintenance hangars. In 2026, Jean-Luc is the Managing Director of JFS Architectes.
Claire Doucet

A graduate of the first class of the École d’architecture de la ville des territoires Paris-Est after its creation in 1999, Claire Doucet already expressed her pioneering spirit there, just as she asserted her transdisciplinary vision of the architectural project. Once she joined JFS Architectes, she began by leading the restructuring of the Jules Roy middle school in Crécy-en-Ponthieu. Regardless of the typology, Claire is dedicated to the care given to built works. She developed this know-how within the JFS Architectes teams. As an advisor to public and private Project Owners, she accompanies them on complex projects.

Convinced that the accuracy of contractual links is one of the guarantees of architectural quality, she oversees this within JFS Architectes.
Raimundo Lopez

Moving from the city of his childhood, Murcia, to the city of his training, Valencia (Spain), Raimundo Lopez migrated from the orchard of Europe with its fertile plain to the design laboratory with its avant-garde architectural achievements. While remaining cradled by the waves of the Mediterranean, this promising start immediately positioned what followed between prosperity and inspiration.

After spending about ten years in this city of design, Raimundo set sail for France in search of new experiences. Prestigious firms welcomed him. With a mind that is as rational as it is collaborative, he mastered the intricacies of the BIM method. Since 2015, his expertise in architectural project modeling has allowed him to develop an integrative vision of the construction operation for JFS Architectes. Major competitions followed one after another, as did prestigious projects, with a growing and sharpening preference for railway typologies. With his keen sense of organization, Raimundo took over the management of the agency’s operations planning.

Expertise at the Heart of Commitment

With a constant commitment to the project, JFS Architectes maintains a relationship of trust with the Project Owner while remaining particularly vigilant regarding the environment.

Supported by the expertise of an entire team, the Project Director accompanies the client while remaining attentive; they propose solutions while adhering to the core objectives of the Project Owner.

Commitment and know-how allow for the joint construction of trust and dialogue in service of the project’s architectural and constructive quality.

From aeronautical maintenance hangars to artisanal manufacturing workshops, JFS Architectes designs buildings that house complex processes. Tackling these large-scale projects relies on the cohesion of a growing team.