Michael Zander

Managing Director. DPLG, ARB, RIBA.

Michael is the founder of the practice and oversees all projects. A native Frenchman, after qualifying as an Architect Michael worked in Paris for several years before joining John Seifert Architects, a large practice in London specialising in luxury hotels, where he worked for 6 years. He started his own business in Valbonne, France in 2006.

His portfolio of work includes Thalès Alenia Space, the Carlton hotel in Cannes, the Grand Hotel in St Jean Cap Ferrat and the Hilton in Reading. He is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and is registered to practice architecture both in France and England. Michael is also Treasurer of the Syndicat des Architectes de la Côte d ’Azur.
Michael is bilingual in French and English and is married to an English wife. He is a keen sailor, loves modern art and is a great fan of British humour.

Maude Habary

Senior Project Architect DE.

Maude is project architect for many of our hotel and restaurant projects as well as luxury residential villas. Her experience includes the Miramar Beach Hotel, Yo’Mo restaurant Cannes and the Casino de Monte Carlo. Before joining Michael Zander Architecture she worked on urban planning projects in Nice, Toulon, Mandelieu and Marseilles.

Maude has recently bought her own house and is now putting architecture into personal practice with a particular emphasis on demolition…

Emilie Dideron

Senior Project Architect DE HMONP

Emilie is senior project architect for many of our hotel and residential projects, including the restaurant of the 5* hotel Lily of the Valley. Her experience includes several private residences in Cap d’Antibes, Le Trayas, Cannes and Vence. She has also worked on Thales Underwater Systems in Cannes, Wall Street Systems in Sophia Antipolis and Google Paris.

Emilie is an accomplished flute player, a keen walker and an intrepid bike rider.

Nita Sharma

Senior Project Architect BSc Hons, ARB, RIBA

Nita takes the role of Project Architect for many of our English-speaking clients. She qualified as an Architect in 1998 in London and worked on many architectural projects in England including private housing in Harpenden, the Bristol Harbourside masterplan (residential, office and leisure facilities) and an elderly care home in St Albans before moving to France in 2006. Whilst with MZArchitecture she has worked on Le Mas Candille hotel bedrooms, Amadeus and Thalès Alenia Space.

In addition to her architectural flair Nita has hidden musical talents (piano Grade 5 and DJ skills), speaks two Indian languages as well as English, and has a Brown Belt in karate!

Samantha Benon

Administration Manager

Samantha joined MZA in 2022. She has over 20 years’ experience in administration and operations in the hospitality business, including radio, events management, and the luxury cruise ship and yachting industry.

Samantha is bilingual in English and French.

Arnaud Durand

Interior Designer & CAD Technician

Arnaud has a master’s degree in interior design and decoration for exceptional buildings. He joined MZA in 2019 and works on luxury residential projects in Cap d’Antibes and Grasse. He is a native French speaker and is fluent in English.

Arnaud spent a year studying and working in Amsterdam and Rotterdam before joining MZA. In his spare time he paints, cooks and enjoys putting together 3D design models.

Coralie Nys

Project Architect DE

Coralie joined MZA in 2018 and takes the role of Project Architect for the renovation and extension of the Hôtel Westminster in Nice as well as for residential developments in Châteauneuf de Grasse and Le Rouret and several private residential projects. Originally from Belgium, she is a native French speaker and is also fluent in German.

Coralie has strong sewing skills which she is currently putting to good use as she renovates her own apartment.

Claire Ross

Project Architect MA

Claire joined MZA in 2020 and is project architect for a major residential project in Cap d’Antibes on which MZA is collaborating with Philippe Starck. Originally from France, Claire qualified in architecture in New York and worked for Murphy, Burnham and Buttrick Associates in New York for several years before joining MZA.

Claire is bilingual in English and French.

Fanny Combier

Senior Project Architect DPLG

Fanny is Project Architect for several of our commercial and hotel projects, including the 5 star Apogee Hotel, Nike store and various projects for the offices of Amadeus IT group. Before joining MZA she worked on several public buildings as well as individual residential projects.

Fanny plays the piano, the guitar and the cello and loves drawing.  She also enjoys making pottery…both with and without her children to help…!

Janet Zander

Decoration Manager

Janet is responsible for marketing and general administration. She spent 10 years working in marketing for ICI Paints in the UK, Malaysia and Europe, latterly as European Marketing Manager. She also worked as Project Director for Added Value Marketing Consultancy and as Marketing Controller for Signet, the largest jewellery retailer in the UK, before moving to France in 2006.

Janet enjoys cooking and playing the piano. She and Michael also have two children, who keep both parents firmly under control when not at work.

Isabelle Cauco

Secretary

Isabelle is our secretary and the secret to our success.  She is bilingual, highly efficient, always smiling and above all very nice!

Zelim Muzaev

Project Architect DE HMONP

Zelim has worked with MZA since 2017. He is senior project architect for several of our residential and hotel projects including Hôtel Les Arcades in Menton, 3 luxury villas in Cap d’Antibes and villas in Mougins and Villefranche sur Mer. He speaks perfect French and Russian and is proficient in English.

Ivan Levieux

Architect DPLG

Ivan joined MZA in 2022 as a senior project architect. He has over 14 years’ experience in architecture, including 8 years as project architect and then head of agency in an architectural practice in Shanghai. His experience includes hotels, offices, retail, master planning and private residences. He is currently working on the major extension and renovation of hotel Le Mas Candille in Mougins.

Ivan is a native French speaker and speaks English and Mandarin.

Dorsaf Ennajah

Architect DE

Dorsaf joined MZA in 2022 and takes the role of assistant project architect for Hôtel Le Mas Candille, as well as for two luxury private residences.

Dorsaf is a native Tunisian and is bilingual in French.

Morgane Cruciata

Architect DE

Morgane joined MZA in 2022 and takes the role of assistant project architect for Hôtel Le Mas Candille as well as for various private residences.