DVVD, when architecture and engineering become one

The uniqueness of the agency is that it brings together architectural and technical design and economic control of projects in a single entity.

Based at 15 rue Léon Frot, in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, the agency employs around fifty people: architects, structural engineers, façade specialists and economists, working with its 7 partners, Daniel Vaniche, Toma Dryjski, Paula Castro, Bertrand Potel, Louis Ratajcazak, Celine Cerisier and Vincent Dominguez.

DVVD Architects and DVVD Engineers are two companies that specialise in architecture and engineering, which is why the projects they develop are so successful.

Both multidisciplinary and varied, the projects, studied from A to Z, demonstrate complete mastery of the design programme. The completed constructions are adequate responses that evolve according to strict criteria where all skills converge. The DVVD organisation is also recognised for its complex projects in France and internationally. From the construction of engineering structures to the building of towers - including the construction of housing, offices, hotels and also major renovation or transformation of public facilities - DVVD deploys all its know-how and participates in shaping the city. Let's take a look at a selection of the agency's projects.

Hôtel Paradiso

In the 12th arrondissement of Paris, DVVD was commissioned to carry out the renovation of the MK2 Nation cinema complex, adding a generous extension to the complex. The operation consists of giving a facelift to the existing building, which has two basement levels and three upper levels housing a three-screen cinema complex with access to a fourth screen located in the centre of the neighbouring plot. The extension consists of hotel rooms. The new facility, which combines a cinema and a hotel, offers users a new experience centred on the seventh art. The minimalist rooms are transformed into a private screening space. The spirit of the cinema accompanies visitors to their private spaces. The project includes the creation of a garden and green areas on the roof of the building. It is a hybrid project that skilfully combines several areas of expertise.

Trudaine

In Paris, DVVD converted a former school into a modern, efficient and virtuous living space. The building, which overlooks Avenue Trudaine in the 9th arrondissement, had retained its unitary character. Nevertheless, over time, the ageing complex no longer met the current standards. It was decided to renovate it to house a complex comprising twenty social housing units, a nursery with thirty cradles, a WeWork coworking space, offices and a car park. This was a complex project, as it involved the coexistence of several programmes with different entrances, uses and characteristics. The architects have renovated the facades and the roofs overlooking the street and the courtyard. The restoration was meticulous, in order to preserve the original spirit. While the floors have been preserved or reinforced depending on their condition, the main courtyard was covered with a lightweight glass roof. With the aim of integrating the latter into the existing base, the architects paid attention to the finesse and layout. The result is quite simply fabulous.

Neighbourhood life Bordeaux Deschamps

In Bordeaux, not far from the Saint-Jean station and in a rapidly changing neighbourhood, in 2024, DVVD architects delivered a project consisting of open-access housing, participatory housing and a tourist residence. It is a project that takes place in a neglected part of the city that nevertheless retains traces of the past and a remarkable landscape. After carefully studying the context, the architects designed a complex that not only adds to the dynamism of the neighbourhood but also stands as an example in its own right. Located opposite the historic centre of Bordeaux, the project, which was developed with great skill, has been awarded the NF HABITAT HQE Excellent 9 Stars label.

Web school factory

In Paris' 13th arrondissement, DVVD architects created a building that received several labels, such as the HQE Excellent Label and the Wiredscore Gold / BIM Design Label. Fiat Lux, the higher education building located in the heart of the block, is discreetly laid out in an ‘L’ shape. In this enclosed environment, the architects' primary intention was to maximise natural light. DVVD skilfully designed a customised project that spans four levels and engages in a subtle dialogue with the surrounding houses. The complex is accessed via a spacious entrance hall, the bulk of which is devoted to a multi-purpose workspace. The other spaces are dedicated to teaching and administration. Several patios, including the entrance courtyard, provide natural light to the different parts of the building. The building is an appropriate response to the various programmatic and contextual requirements.

Paul Vatine footbridge

In the historic centre of Le Havre, DVVD has built the new Paul Vatine dock footbridge, which not only enriches the port landscape but also contributes to the revitalisation of an entire part of the city. Established by the Urban Community with the aim of facilitating the crossing of the dock and promoting soft mobility, the footbridge offers an additional route for users through a functional and innovative structure. The new footbridge fits in perfectly with the heritage site and respects the history of the docks. The thickness of the deck is reduced to one metre and its mobile span blends into the volume of the fixed span when it is opened, creating an element of surprise. In order to preserve the integrity of the quays, the structure was built on a multitude of piles without abutments on the bank, thus meeting the technical and aesthetic constraints of the site. At night, a line of light emphasises the presence of the footbridge.

Since its formation, DVVD has received a multitude of awards, has held several exhibitions and has participated in a large number of conferences. The agency's achievements have been cited among the most inventive works and continue to attract attention, whether for their rationality or for their innovation. Today, DVVD's architects and engineers are comfortably ensconced in skilfully designed premises and spaces, bearing the agency's signature in response to the various issues of our time.