Michel Mossessian

The NATO headquarters in Brussels, completed in 2017, represents a core achievement of Michel Mossessian’s career, resulting from a successful bid during his tenure as Design Director at the London offices of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. This French architect, born in Paris in 1959, has established a practice defined by global collaboration and distinct technical rigor.

Academic Foundation

Mossessian received his architectural diploma from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts UP N°8 in Paris. During this period, he studied philosophy alongside Jacques Derrida and Michel Foucault. His postgraduate education included a Villa Medicis Hors les Murs fellowship, followed by Advanced Design studies at the Cooper Union School of Architecture in New York. He finalized his formal training with a master’s degree in design studies at the Harvard Graduate School of Design in Cambridge, Massachusetts, under Raphael Moneo and Bill Mitchell, while simultaneously engaging with artificial intelligence research at the MIT Media Lab.

Career Development and Firm Evolution

Before forming his own practice, Mossessian held the position of Senior Designer at the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Chicago office. His early contributions in London involved significant projects such as Exchange House, Broadgate, and 1 Fleet Place, completed in 1992. In 2005, he launched Mossessian & Partners, later rebranded as Mossessian Architecture. The firm’s inaugural London design, the 15-storey Carmine Building at 5 Merchant Square, reached completion in 2009. Subsequent completions in 2010 included the ExxonMobil headquarters in Shanghai and a private residence in Sorede, France.

Design Philosophy and Methodologies

Mossessian utilizes a proprietary Black Box method to maintain a cohesive project vision from inception to delivery. His work emphasizes cultural localism, seeking to integrate architecture into the broader social and historical fabric of its site. He actively engages with organizations like UNESCO and the MCC to facilitate culturally responsive design. Outside of his commercial practice, he serves as a visiting professor at Imperial College London, focusing his lectures on the intersection of architecture and human well-being.

International Projects and Recognition

The practice has secured multiple international commissions, including urban renewal efforts in the Medina of Fes, Morocco, and regeneration schemes in Doha, Qatar. His work in the Msheireb development and Place Lalla Yeddouna has garnered various honors, including the Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction and multiple World Architecture Festival awards. In 2016, his firm won the competition for the museum of the Islamic Faith in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Further active projects include the S1 and S2 buildings located in London’s King's Cross area.

Fast facts

• Born: 1959, Paris
• Citizenship: France
• Education: Harvard University, Cooper Union, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Beaux-Arts de Paris
• Primary Occupations: Architect
• Notable Projects: NATO headquarters, 5 Merchant Square, ExxonMobil Shanghai
• Awards: Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction, MIPIM
• Languages: French, English
• Current Position: Principal Architect, Mossessian Architecture

Questions readers ask

Where did Michel Mossessian receive his formal education?

He studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, the Cooper Union School of Architecture in New York, and the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

What is the Black Box method?

It is a foundational methodology used by Mossessian Architecture to ensure a unified vision among all stakeholders throughout a project's development.

Is Michel Mossessian currently practicing?

Yes, he serves as the principal architect of Mossessian Architecture and acts as a visiting professor at Imperial College London.

Achievements

• MIPIM
• Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction
• Trained at Beaux-Arts de Paris and Cooper Union