Co-design in architecture: when users become the actors of their spaces!
03 Oct 2025
Jean-Romain Girodet, a passionate architect and Coworkea coworker based in Vanves, shares his innovative vision of architecture: co-design. This approach places future building users at the heart of the design process, right from the earliest design phases. A method which, he believes, transforms not only the spaces themselves, but also the way in which they are experienced.
Photography : Rénald ROSINET
A speciality: rehabilitating for a better welcome
Jean-Romain Girodet and his firm specialize in the renovation of existing buildings, in particular libraries and media libraries. Recent projects include the La Rochelle media library, the Angers university library, and the Colette library in Dijon, housed in a former church. These projects pose unique technical challenges, as Jean-Romain Girodet explains: "In a church, for example, you have to manage the movement of cold air in winter and the redistribution of heat, while taking advantage of the natural coolness of the stones in summer."
But beyond technical constraints, it's the user experience that guides each project.
Co-design: listening for better design
For Jean-Romain Girodet, co-design is essential: "If you want to adapt a building to people, you have to consult them."
This involves regular exchanges with users, both library staff and users themselves. For example, for a university library, Jean-Romain Girodet and his team bring together student committees right from the initial sketches:
"We show them plans and images, and ask them what they prefer. These exchanges enrich the project and enable us to design spaces adapted to their needs."
User feedback influences a variety of aspects:
- Workspaces: some students prefer quiet, enclosed areas, but not totally isolated.
- Furniture: informal seating such as ottomans or flexible spaces to adapt to exam periods.
- Acoustics: differentiate between areas where you can talk and those where silence is required.
Challenges to meet
Co-design is not without its challenges. Jean-Romain Girodet stresses the importance of reconciling user expectations with technical, budgetary and regulatory constraints: "We have to explain why certain ideas are not feasible, such as adding a staircase to comply with fire standards, or why specific furniture is chosen for technical reasons."
This transparency strengthens user confidence and support. Jean-Romain Girodet observes: "When they see that their feedback is taken into account, buy-in is extremely strong, as we saw in La Rochelle."
A human and collaborative process
Co-design is above all a human approach. Jean-Romain Girodet stresses the importance of ongoing dialogue with users: "We prefer to work on site, in existing premises, so that discussions are pragmatic and users can exchange views directly. This approach favors the emergence of a consensus on their real needs."
This collaborative approach extends beyond users to include design offices, funders and project owners, who are essential to the project validation process.
Architecture designed for and with users
Co-design, as practiced by Jean-Romain Girodet and his team, illustrates a modern, inclusive vision of architecture. By involving users from the earliest stages, this approach enables us to create spaces that truly meet their needs, while fostering a lasting sense of ownership.
"A successful building is one in which users feel at home, because they have participated in its creation." 😊