Atelier LAVIT is an architectural and design practice founded in Paris in 2014 by Marco Lavit. Architecture and design often proceed in parallel, striving to reach essential forms which does not follow trends, continually in quest for a conceptual essentiality, perpetuating a journey of timeless production. The humanistic approach of the studio covers a variety of projects that range from custom pieces, collectible design, product design and interior design to open air installations, private houses and eco-lodges.
46 rue Sainte Anne / 75002 Paris
contact@atelier-lavit.com
Marco Lavit (b. 1986) studied architecture at Ecole Speciale d’Architecture in Paris and at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. He graduated at ESA in 2011 with a dissertation on wineries sustainable design. His sensibility towards design took shape at the studio of the architect and designer Riccardo Blumer. His time at LAN Architecture further strengthened his architectural direction, with a strong focus on design culture and attention for detail.
Lavit founded his architecture and design practice, Atelier LAVIT, in Paris in 2014. Since then, the practice has been active in France and Italy. Atelier LAVIT’s work originates from the dialogue with artisans and their savoir-faire, especially Made in Italy. This approach results in an extemporal production, letting the strength of raw materials speak for the designs themselves.
In architecture, the studio has a preference for the use of wood, often applied to unusual and innovative housing structures all around Europe. In 2017 Atelier LAVIT realized an exclusive tree house, Origin, for the Park of Raray Castle, France, and a series of surprising, floating cabins for Grands Cepages Hotel in Chateauneuf-du-Pape as well as some privates lodges in the Mediterranean basin. On going projects such as private houses and eco-lodges hotels characterize continuous research on the theme of prefabricated wooden structures and intelligent design. Lilelo (Little Leisure Lodge) projet in Monferrato won the Wood Architecture Prize 2023 by Klimahouse.
In 2014 Lavit conceived Venezia, an iron and leather seat which catches the eye for the fluidity and elegance of its line. Venezia was originally designed for the Venice Architecture Biennale, but the work was later exhibited all across Europe: at Great Design Gallery (Paris), at Centre Pompidou (Paris) as part of the retrospective on Le Corbusier by Officine Panerai, at Spazio Rossana Orlandi (Milan) and at Impermanent Collection (Brussels), Collectible design fair (Brussels), Nomad Circle (St. Moritz), Art Basel (Basel), Salone del Mobile (Milan), Maison & Objet (Paris). Today the Venezia lounge chair set, Reconvexo low table, Atem modular sofa, Danseuse floor lamp, Trio wood ceiling lamp and Libra outdoor set are produced exclusively by Nilufar Gallery in Milan. In 2023 Marco’s work was selected for the exhibition ICONE Voices of Design made in Italy at M7 Museum in Doha and for the personal exhibition Geometrie at Galleria Rossella Colombari in Milan.
Lavit’s work has been published and presented internationally allowing him to approach the universe of industrial design collaborating with Ethimo (Hut outdoor nest), Living Divani (Lemni armchair, Paradigma mirror system, Alvea console and Ad-astra light), MDF Italia (Cantle armchair), Lelièvre Paris (Finis Terrae rugs collection) and Carpet Edition (Eclipse rugs collection), Jannelli & Volpi (Arké wallcovering)
In 2018 Lavit was one of the Rising Talents Award for Maison & Objet Paris and the AD Seven for the Future Award. He exposed Reconvexo low table, designed for Nilufar Gallery, at the exhibition 'Architect’s Furniture 1960-2020’ at La Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine de Paris in 2019. With the surprising installation Hut during Paris Design Week 2019, he started the collaboration with Ethimo and won the Archiproducts Design Awards for the outdoor category in 2020 and the prestigious EDIDA Award 2022. Lemni armchair, designed for Living Divani, won the EDIDA Award 2022 in the seating category.
Currently teaching architecture at the Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture (ESA) in Paris, Lavit focuses the work of his studio on small scale architectures and prefab technics based on the principle of learning-by-doing. He also acts as a regular guest speaker at conferences related to his field of research.
TEACHING
2023 Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture de Paris // Architecture Studio (since 2018)
2023 Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture de Paris // Les cabanas de Tallone // On site students’ exhibition
2022 International Architecture Competition (Volume Zero) // Tiny House // International Jury Member
2022 International Architecture Competition (Bee Breeders) // Caramel Shore Traveller Rooms // International Jury Member
2021 International Architecture Competition (Bee Breeders) // Romantic cabin for two // International Jury Member
2020 YAC (Young Architects Competitions) // Tree House Module // International Jury Member
2019 Sustainable architecture - Energy efficiency // University of Belgrade // Belgrade
2019 Outdoor furniture // workshop ESA + Camondo // Professor
2019 Living Forum Prague // International Jury Member
2018 SciencePo Paris // Master 1 Urbanism // Jury
2018 Volume Zero // Aquatecture Architecture Competition // Jury
2018 Ecole Studio Créa Paris // Bachelor Design Jury
2018 Ecole Spéciale d'Architecture Paris // HMONP Architecture jury
2017 ENSA Nantes-Mauritius in Port Louis // Bamboo furniture design workshop
2017 Ecole Spéciale d'Architecture de Paris // HMONP Architecture jury
2015 Ecole Spéciale d'Architecture de Paris // DESA Architecture jury
2010 Ecole Spéciale d'Architecture de Paris // Professor Assistant (Prof. Daniel Dendra)
2010 Ecole Spéciale d'Architecture de Paris // Professor Assistant (Prof. Marc Vaye)
TALKS
2023 SEED Paris // guest speaker // ENSA Paris La Villette, Paris
2023 Sustainable living // guest speaker // ELLE getting greener, Università degli Studi Federico II, Naples
2023 The Future of Living // guest speaker // Forum dell’abitare del futuro, Milan
2022 Architecture and Design // Ecole Duperéé, Paris
2019 Sustainable architecture - Energy efficiency // Saee Congress, Belgrade
2019 M.E.C.I // Ordine degli Architetti di Lecco // La qualità del progetto tra estetica e funzione
2019 Paolo Castelli Paris Showroom // L’universalité du trait
2018 Institute BIG - Center for Creative Economics in Ljubljana // Wooden Tourist Architecture
2018 DOX Center of Contemporary Art in Prague // Congress on Living, Interior Design and Architecture LIVING FORUM
2018 Design Week in Varese // Architecture and Design, universality of the gesture
2018 Embassy of Italy in Paris // Italian Design Day
2018 Maison&Objet Paris // Rising Talents: The New Stars of Italian Design
2017 ENSA Nantes-Mauritius in Port Louis // Bamboo Architecture in Mauritius
2017 Elle Decor Grand Hotel in Milan // Art Design and Public Places
2017 Design Week in Varese // Architecture and Design
2017 Ecole Spéciale d'Architecture of Paris // HMONP talk
EXPOSITIONS / AWARDS
2023 "GEOMETRIE" // Galleria Rossella Colombari // Milan
2023 "ICONE Voices of Design made in Italy" // M7 Museum // Doha
2023 Wood Architecture Prize // Klimahause Bolzen // Winner under 35 category // LILELO Little Leisure Lodge
2022 Edida 2022 // Elle Deco International Design Awards // Winner seating category selection // LEMNI (Living Divani)
2021 Private Choice // 10th Edition // FIAC Paris
2021 Edida 2021 // Elle Deco International Design Awards // Winner outdoor category // HUT (Ethimo)
2020 Archiproducts Design Awards // Winner outdoor selection // HUT, Ethimo
2020 Marco Lavit // Nilufar 25 // Nilufar gallery, Milan
2020 Nomad St Moritz // Aliante Partners
2019 Operazione Design Italia // BHV Marais + EATALY, Paris
2019 Architect’s Furniture 1960-2020 // Cité de l’architecture & du patrimoine, Paris
2019 Nilufar Gallery // Milan Design Week
2019 Atelier Jespers // #itinerance12 exposition // PAD Paris
2019 Great Design Gallery // Collectible design fair, Brussels
2018 GCP wood cabins Hotel // Archdaily Best Project 2018 (shortlisted)
2018 ORIGIN tree house Hotel // Archdaily Best Project 2018 (shortlisted)
2018 GCP wood cabins Hotel // Archilovers Best Project 2018
2018 ORIGIN tree house Hotel // Archilovers Best Project 2018
2018 AD Italia // 7 for the Future Award
2018 Nilufar Gallery // Milan Design Week
2018 Maison&Objet Paris // Rising Talent Award
2018 Embassy of Italy in Paris // Maison&Objet Rising Talent Awards
2017 Elle Decor Grand Hotel in Milan // The Open House
2017 Nilufar Gallery // Milan Design Week
2016 Nilufar Gallery // Milan Design Week
2015 Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris // Panerai for Le Corbusier
2015 Impermanent Collection Brussels // Issue 01
2015 Spazio Rossana Orlandi // Milan Design Week
2015 Palazzo Litta // Milan Design Week
2015 Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica // Milan Design Week
2014 Great Design Gallery // Have a seat, Paris