Philippe Madec studied architecture at the Grand Palais in Paris, in the Ciriani/Maroti studio, until 1979. Then he travelled and lived abroad for almost a decade. During this time, he taught in Europe and North America and developed research combining education and architectural theory. He also published his first book, on Étienne-Louis Boullée.

Between 1983 and 1984, his personal undertaking was strengthened when he met Kenneth Frampton. He fully developed his eco-friendly vision of developing the territory, before starting his own studio in 1989.

For Philippe Madec, human constructions are not seen as borders, but more like spaces that connect with the Living. As such he campaigns for the adoption of “local architecture", that is consistent with and respects the ecological and cultural heritage of each place. Form social housing to cultural facilities, he designs buildings that are both bioclimatic and eco-built. His activity as a town planner also leads him to work with very differing scales, from villages to ecological cities.

In 2018, he co-wrote the Manifesto for a happy  frugality, with Alain Bornarel and Dominique Gauzin-Müller. The text invites professionals working in building to take on an alternative architectural practice that is sustainable and responsive faced with the current environmental issues.

With his two studios in Paris and Rennes, Philippe Madec has created many large-scale projects, in France and abroad (Morocco, New Caledonia). His unique positioning and work have won numerous awards for their ecological intelligence.

He also writes and teaches. He acts as director of research for several French and foreign academies (Hungry, Reunion island) and has been teaching "L'invention du territoire Durable" (The invention of the Sustainable territory) at the ENSA in Rennes since 2010.

He also contributes to the general policy for architecture and town planning in France. Among others, he acts as adviser for the Grenelle agreements, and is among the members of the French Towns and Lands of Art and History National Council. In 2019, he was president of the selection committee which chose the “Les communautés à l’œuvre” (Communities at work) project by Christophe Hutin for the French Pavilion at the 2021 Venice International Biennale of Architecture.