Agence Volta

Profile:

Key points:

• The studio operates in architecture and interior architecture

• Specializes in custom-designed private commissions

• Balances tradition and contemporaneity

• Emphasis on materials and spatial harmony

Nationality: French designer

Style: Symmetry

Refined, precise

Natural materials

Symmetry and chromatic balance

Blend of tradition and modernity

Overview:

Studio Background: Founded in 2016

Volta is a Paris-based architecture and interior architecture agency, founded in 2016 by Agathe Lavaud. The studio stands out through a meticulous attention to detail and a unique approach that merges tradition with contemporary aesthetics.

Each project is treated as a distinct creation, inspired by its existing context and shaped through careful consideration of spatial volumes and material selections. Volta’s work spans renovations and new constructions, always seeking to enhance and sublimate the original character of a place.

Founders: Agathe Lavaud

Approach, design philosophy: The harmony of space and material

Volta’s philosophy is deeply rooted in the respect for context and the harmony of space and material. !

“Each project is unique. It benefits from a personalized exploration in terms of volume and material, always guided by the existing context.” (Source: Volta’s website). “I love natural materials, to sublimate them and the challenge it represents.” (Source: Ideat)

Style: A fusion of elegance and practical sophistication

Volta’s style combines a noble elegance with practical sophistication. It is characterized by the use of natural materials, refined lines, and a balance between minimalism and warmth. The palette often includes subtle colors and well-considered textures, creating welcoming, timeless interiors.

Main inspirations: Natural materials

“I spent six months in Rome for my studies, a period during which I discovered Aldo Rossi and Andrea Palladio. Since then, I love symmetry!”. “I adore natural materials, enhancing them and the challenge it represents.” (Source: Ideat)

Identity and aesthetics: Sensitive and contextual design language

The identity and aesthetics of Agence Volta are characterized by a sensitive, contextual design language. Projects are tailored and elegant, often with a quiet sophistication achieved through symmetry, texture, and harmony of materials. Each interior reflects a subtle interplay of refined craftsmanship and discreet color use, revealing an underlying narrative.

Values

The studio values context-driven, client-focused design. It emphasizes material authenticity, spatial clarity, and detailed craftsmanship. “Clients follow me in my experiments, like testing new natural varnishes.” (Source: Ideat)

Creative process

The creative process of Volta is founded on a detailed understanding of space and material. Agathe Lavaud favors hand drawings and physical models over 3D renderings. “When clients insist on 3D, I produce an image, but it’s never very realistic… In the end, 90% trust me.” (Source: Ideat)

Production and materials

The studio frequently uses cork, which Agathe considers a revelation. “I took my team to Porto to meet a remarkable manufacturer. I color the cork with natural pigments using a formula I developed.”

She also collaborates with startups using sustainable materials like “merrazzo” made from marine sediments. (Source: Ideat)

Production methods

Volta adopts a respectful approach to existing architecture, often enhancing the soul of spaces through natural integration. Materials are chosen for their sustainable and aesthetic qualities, and construction often respects local craft traditions.

Main categories

• Interior architecture

• Furniture

• Custom spatial design

Major projects

• Renovation of a duplex in an Art Deco building (date not specified, Paris)

• Apartment renovation in Marcel Breuer’s Flaine resort (2019, Haute-Savoie)

• Transformation of a country house near Chantilly (2023, France)

Recognition

The designer’s talent was recognized by the architecture and design press for her innovative and elegant use of materials and space.

Press/media quotes

• https://ideat.fr/jeune-talent-agathe-lavaud-fondatrice-de-volta-architecture/

• https://www.admagazine.fr/decoration/inspiration-deco/diaporama/petit-espace-un-studio-sous-les-toits-a-deux-pas-de-beaubourg/61349

• https://www.dezeen.com/2019/02/20/flaine-apartment-marcel-breuer-holiday-home-skiing-france/

• https://living.corriere.it/case/case-campagna/stile-country-campagna-francese-volta-architecture/

Headquarters and website

147, rue Saint-Martin
75003 Paris, France

https://volta-architecture.com/