ABOUT US
Olivier Greder Architecture (O.G.A.), known in Chinese as "有所谓设计" (You Suo Wei Design), was founded by French architect and urban designer Olivier Greder.
Established in 2017 near Hangzhou's West Lake and Wushan Hill, O.G.A. focuses on the design of public spaces and public buildings, as well as urban regeneration and restoration. The studio emphasizes the scientific, practical, and social aspects of architecture, while advocating for ecology, environmental protection, and low-carbon development.
We champion a human-centric, context-specific, and low-profile approach to architectural and urban design. Conversely, we reject formalism, utilitarianism, and detached, "standardized" design templates, as well as car-centric, dehumanizing urban planning. Committed to researching alternative solutions to pervasive urbanization, O.G.A. champions urbanity and vibrant city life. We explore and propose "counter-planning" strategies for mixed-use, user-friendly neighborhoods that foster walkability and inclusivity. Furthermore, we advocate for the protection of rural areas, agriculture, natural landscapes, and biodiversity, striving to restore a symbiotic relationship between nature, the countryside, and modern society.
Honors & Awards
November 2020:
Second Prize in the “Future ShanShui City · Dwellings in Lishui Mountains International Urban Design Competition ” (overall area of 152 km² ).
October 2022:
Third Prize in the ”「Beyond YUE｜Jianhu Revival」Shaoxing Jianhu Planning and Design International Competition” (area of 35.4 km²).
December 2024:
First Prize (Winner) in the “Longquan Sanjiangkou Area Development Planning and Urban Design Competition” (total area of 313 hectares).
September 2025:
Third Prize in the “Jinyun Yangtantou Area Urban Design Competition” (total area of 617 hectares).
ABOUT FOUNDER
Olivier Greder , French architect and urbanist, Distinguished Professor and Dean of the Urban design Department of the School of Architecture of the China Academy of Arts. Research fieds: Geography-Based Urban Planning and the Redevelopment of Urbanity.
He advocates the restoration of conditions of symbiosis between nature, the countryside and modern society. His field of teaching, research and practice concerns the question of urban life and urbanity. He defends an architecture and urbanism centered on social needs. He has won several awards for urban design and architecture in China, the United States and Europe. He has taught at the École Spéciale d 'Architecture in Paris, the École Nationale Supérieure d' Architecture in Strasbourg and the Institut National des Sciences in Strasbourg. He regularly publishes articles in professional magazines in China.
Areas of Expertise
Low-Carbon Urban and Architectural Design / Human-Scale Urban Design / Bioclimatic Architectural Design / Strategic Resilient Design / Sustainable Design for Reuse, Recycling, and Regreening
Some milestones in his career:
· Tied second prize in 1996 for the international contest "Governor's Island Lost Archipelago"
· After getting a D. P. L. G at the Strasbourg School of Architecture in 1997, he joined Architecture Studio-Becomes co-founder and director of the architecture agency G. studio in Strabourg from 2001 to 2015
· Built the first low-carbon building in Alsace in 2004, using the TABS G process. station ®
· Participates in the "Ordos100" project under the direction of Ai Weiwei and in collaboration with Encore Heureux in Inner Mongolia in 2008
· Taught at the School of Architecture of the Chinese Academy of Arts since 2016 under the direction of WangShu.
· Second Prize in the “Future ShanShui City · Dwellings in Lishui Mountains International Urban Design Competition ” in 2020
· Winning project of the “Longquan Sanjiangkou Area Development Planning and Urban Design Competition” in 2024
· Third Prize in the ”「Beyond YUE｜Jianhu Revival」Shaoxing Jianhu Planning and Design International Competition” in 2022
· Third prize in the "Jinyun Yangtantou Area Urban Design Competition” in 2025
· Publication of the book "Redevelopment of Urbanity" by CAA press in spring 2026