Marco Lavit
France
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. 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) project 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 and Trio wood ceiling lamp are produced exclusively by Nilufar Gallery in Milan. Lavit’s work has been published and presented internationally allowing him to approach the universe of industrial design collaborating with Jannelli & Volpi (Arké wallcovering), Ethimo (Hut outdoor nest), Living Divani (Lemni armchair, Paradigma mirror system and Alvea console), Lelièvre Paris (Finis Terrae rugs collection) and Carpet Edition (Eclipse rugs collection). 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.
