Altarea

About Altarea

Altarea is a real estate company that has moved beyond its origins to become a leader in transforming French cities with a focus on low-carbon development. The company designs and manages a wide range of properties, including retail spaces, housing, offices, and even digital and energy infrastructure, positioning itself as a key player in shaping urban environments for modern life. The story begins in 1994 when Alain Taravella and Jacques Nicolet founded Altarea. Taravella, an entrepreneur with a background in real estate, saw an opportunity during the market downturn of the early 1990s. The initial focus was on developing shopping centers, and the firm quickly made a name for itself with innovative projects like Bercy Village in Paris, which blended retail with leisure to revive a historic neighborhood. After its 2004 IPO, Altarea was ready for its next major move. A pivotal moment came in 2007 with the acquisition of Cogedim, a developer specializing in housing and offices. This strategic purchase was a deliberate shift from being a retail-focused builder to a diversified real estate powerhouse. This allowed the company to operate across the three main property markets—retail, residential, and offices—and take on large-scale, mixed-use urban projects. Today, Altarea is entering a new chapter, guided by a strategy of "low-carbon urban transformation." This involves not only constructing energy-efficient buildings but also expanding into new, high-growth sectors. The company is making significant investments in photovoltaic infrastructure and developing massive data center campuses to support France's growing digital needs, including the boom in AI. These moves show Altarea continuing to adapt, aiming to build the resilient and sustainable cities of the future.