Paris
Atelier LAVIT is an architectural and design practice based in Paris. Architecture and Design move naturally in a parallel conversation, nurtured by photographic experience. Continually in quest for a conceptual essentiality, perpetuating a journey of timeless production.
Born 1986, Marco Lavit 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.
Marco 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. Architecture and design often proceed in parallel, striving to reach essential forms. This approach results in an extemporal production, which does not follow trends, but rather lets the strength of raw materials speak for the designs themselves.
The studio covers a variety of projects that range from custom pieces, collectible design, limited editions pieces, industrial design, scenography, open air installations, interiors design, to houses and hotel design.
Lo studio si occupa di una varietà di progetti che spaziano da pezzi personalizzati, design da collezione, pezzi in edizioni limitate, design industriale, scenografie, installazioni all'aperto, design di interni, case e design di hotel.
In 2014 Atelier 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, Reconvexo low table, Atem modular sofa, Danseuse floor lamp and Trio wood ceiling lamp are produced exclusively by Nilufar Gallery in Milan.
With the surprising installation ‘Hut’ during the Paris Design Week 2019, Marco started the collaboration with Ethimo and won the Archiproducts Design Awards outdoor selection in 2020.
In architecture, the studio has a preference for the use of wood, often applied to unusual and innovative housing structures in France, Italy and Spain. 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 an hotel in Chateauneuf-du-Pape as well as some privates suites such as Cabana in Ibiza. On going projects such as private houses and eco-lodges hotels around Europe characterize continuous research on the theme of prefabricated wooden structures and intelligent design.
In 2018 Marco won the Rising Talents Award for Maison & Objet Paris and the AD Seven for the Future Award while the low table Reconvexo was exposed at the exhibition 'Architect’s Furniture 1960-20202’ at La Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine de Paris.
He is currently teaching architecture at the Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture (ESA) in Paris focusing the work of his studio on small scale architectures and pre-fab technics and he is regularly guest speaker at congresses and conferences related to this field of research.
