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. 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 outdoor in 2019.
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.
TEACHING
2020 Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture Paris // Architecture Professor
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 Paris // HMONP Architecture jury
2015 Ecole Spéciale d'Architecture Paris // DESA Architecture jury
2010 Ecole Spéciale d'Architecture Paris // Professor Assistant (Prof. Daniel Dendra)
2010 Ecole Spéciale d'Architecture Paris // Professor Assistant (Prof. Marc Vaye)
TALKS
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 Catselli 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
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
