The practice
Elody Hurter,
DPLG architect
Founder of HELYO ARCHITECTES — more than twenty years of experience in multi-family housing, renovation and urban planning.
Background
A passion for art that became a vocation
With a passion for art, Elody Hurter first studied interior architecture before confirming her vocation with the French DPLG architect's degree in 2002: a discipline that is at once social, technical and artistic.
After working in several practices, she joined SUD Architectes in 2001. She quickly took part in every phase of the projects, became project leader, then partner in 2007. From 2015, she headed the housing, office and industry division, leading mixed-use and complex schemes where people and the well-being of future occupants come first.
Trained in environmental building quality (QEB) by the French Order of Architects and certified in energy retrofit for condominiums, she has long been committed to environmental approaches.
In 2024 and 2025, she shared her expertise in urban planning and territory with students at Builders École d'Ingénieurs and Sup'Tertiaire, the school for future property developers. She is also a member of the Cercle de Zaha.
In 2023, I founded HELYO ARCHITECTES to offer virtuous projects, both socially and environmentally, with agility and passion. Elody Hurter — Founder
Approach
What guides our projects
Architecture & territory
A project must be rooted in its surroundings, its history and its social context. Early dialogue with local authorities and stakeholders is essential.
Sustainable development
Trained in environmental building quality, Elody Hurter puts restraint, durable materials, biodiversity and everyday comfort at the heart of every project.
Renovation & transformation
Building “the city upon the city”: renovating, extending, transforming and retrofitting existing buildings are the challenges of the future.
Multi-family housing
More than twenty years of experience and hundreds of homes designed: from small apartment buildings to 400-home neighbourhoods, for sale and social rent.
Urban planning & feasibility
Urban, capacity and feasibility studies to inform the decisions of developers, local authorities and operators, well before the building permit.
Supporting clients
Developers, social landlords, planning authorities and homeowners: full support from sketch to site supervision, with attentiveness, responsiveness and rigour.
Milestones
Twenty-five years of architecture
Projects designed at SUD Architectes are shown in the portfolio with the label “Designed at SUD Architectes”.
- 1997Advanced diploma in interior architectureLa Martinière Terreaux, Lyon
- 1999Université de MontréalUniversity exchange, Canada
- 1999Atelier sur QuaisArchitecture practice, Lyon
- 2001Agence Thierry RocheTassin-la-Demi-Lune
- 2001Joins SUD ArchitectesFirst as an intern, then as architect and project leader
- 2002DPLG architect's degreeLyon School of Architecture
- 2007Partner at SUD ArchitectesHousing, office and tourism division · certificate in sustainable development and environmental quality (French Order of Architects)
- 2017Head of the housing divisionSUD Architectes — housing, offices and industry · BIM Revit training
- 2023Founds HELYO ARCHITECTESOn 21 March 2023, in Saint-Romain-au-Mont-d'Or
- 2024Energy retrofitFEE Bat DYNAMOE training — condominiums and energy audits
- 2024–25Urban planning lecturerBuilders École d'Ingénieurs and Sup'Tertiaire