Farewell to Xavier Grau celebrating 28 remarkable years at Chapman Taylor in Brussels

As of July 2025, we celebrate the accomplished career of Chapman Taylor Brussels Director Xavier Grau as he steps into retirement after 28 extraordinary years with Chapman Taylor.

Xavier joined the Brussels studio in 1997 as a design architect and project manager, becoming Studio Director in 2005. Over nearly three decades, he has led a wide range of medium- and large-scale projects across the retail, mixed-use, transportation, residential and hospitality sectors—leaving a lasting legacy across the Benelux region, France, West Africa, and Pakistan.

Xavier has always demonstrated great courage and vision in his approach to new markets. He was instrumental in expanding Chapman Taylor’s reach into regions where the practice had not previously operated. Taking on journeys and projects that many would hesitate to undertake. His pioneering spirit, particularly in challenging environments, has been truly inspirational—blazing a trail that has opened new paths for the wider business.

His portfolio includes many iconic and transformative projects. Among them are early successes such as M2 Shopping Centre (2002), Waasland Shopping Center in Belgium (2004), and L’esplanade in Louvain-la-Neuve (2005), which helped to cement the studio’s reputation in the Belgian market.

Xavier went on to lead the design of major European schemes, including the concept for Place de l’Étoile in Luxembourg (2009), Galerie Toison d’Or (2010), City2 Concept in Brussels (2013) and Ville 2 in Charleroi (2012 and 2020). His leadership on the Brussels Airport Connector (2015) showcased his ability to deliver complex transport-oriented developments with both clarity and vision.

Further afield, Xavier directed large-scale projects such as the feasibility study for a African Development Bank HQ (2017–2025), and Liège Airport Business Park (2018) and Nordstrooss LOT 2 in Marnach, Luxembourg, which is due to complete in 2025. His work in France includes Saint-Genis 2 in Lyon (2019), Créteil Soleil (2022), and Le Spot at Évry 2 in Paris (2023). More recently, he brought Chapman Taylor’s design expertise to Pakistan, leading the Dolmen Mall in Lahore (2024) and the ongoing Dolmen City development in Islamabad.

Xavier’s influence extended far beyond design. His ability to foster trust, develop talent, and build long-lasting client relationships helped raise Chapman Taylor’s profile across Europe and beyond. His collaborative approach and creative rigour shaped not only projects but the people around him.

As Xavier now steps away from professional life, the Brussels studio remains in good hands. Under the direction of Mariia Grachova and Andrew Mackay, the team is ready to embrace new challenges with the same spirit of creativity, collaboration, and excellence that Xavier cultivated over nearly three decades. His passion for design, his fearlessness in exploring new frontiers, and his talent for bringing people together live on in the culture he helped establish.

Xavier's legacy will continue to inspire us, and we wish him a retirement as fulfilling, adventurous, and joyful as the career he so generously devoted to shaping the built environment.

Bon vent, Xavier — and thank you.