Atelier d'Architecture RIVAT

What Atelier d'Architecture RIVAT does

Atelier d'Architecture RIVAT is a French architecture firm founded in 1973 by Claude RIVAT, currently led by his son Julien RIVAT and operating from Saint-Étienne, with additional offices in Paris and Warsaw (via the AR POLSKA subsidiary). The firm specializes in the design of Passivhaus- and EnerPHit-certified buildings, biosourced wood-straw construction, and energy-efficient renovation, serving public-sector entities (municipalities, departmental councils, government agencies), social housing operators (VILOGIA, Loire Habitat, EST Métropole Habitat, PROCIVIS), healthcare providers (including ARTIC 42), and selected private developers and industrial operators across France and Poland.

The firm's core technical capabilities rest on a multidisciplinary team of approximately 25 collaborators—13 architects, 2 draftspersons, 3 engineers, 3 economists, and others—including nine CEPH-certified (Concepteur Européen Passivhaus) designers. Its portfolio spans residential, healthcare, educational, commercial, industrial, and historic monument renovation projects, with notable pioneering achievements including the world's first healthcare facility with hospital process certified Passivhaus (ARTIC 42 dialysis center, 4,200 m², 2019), the rehabilitation of a historic Monument Historique (Manufrance building at 53 Cours Fauriel) to Passivhaus standard, and 18 certified Passivhaus houses built in wood and straw. An in-house R&D cell conducts post-occupancy building performance monitoring and employs drone photogrammetry, 3D scanning, and 3D printing as design and documentation tools.

Revenue is generated through professional services fees structured as a percentage of construction cost or fixed fees per defined mission scope (PC, EXE, Complète). Project acquisition relies on public procurement tenders, architecture competitions, and direct mandates with institutional clients, with notable wins including the STEEL commercial complex (70,000 m² with APSYS, 2020) and the Collège Albert Einstein reconstruction (4,500 m², delivery summer 2026). The firm is organized as a SARL with €300,000 of capital, is privately held by the RIVAT family, and conducts business development through thought leadership, conference participation (International Passive House Institute in Innsbruck, PASSIBAT), industry association memberships (La Maison Passive, FIBOIS, RFCP, VAD), and a steady cadence of industry awards.

Name

Atelier d'Architecture RIVAT

Legal name

Atelier d'Architecture RIVAT

Website

https://rivat-architecte.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Atelier d'Architecture RIVAT is a French architecture firm founded in 1973, specializing in Passivhaus and EnerPHit-certified design, biosourced wood-straw construction, and energy-efficient renovation for public sector, social housing, healthcare, and private clients in France and Poland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Engineering Services (541330), Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Interior Fit-Out (Multi-Family & High-End) (IMAFANAE)

Keywords

• Passive house architecture
• Energy-efficient design
• Sustainable building renovation
• Low-carbon construction
• Biosourced architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Étienne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architecture Design and Engineering Services: Fees for architectural design and engineering services on construction and renovation projects, typically structured as a percentage of construction cost or fixed fees for specific mission scopes (PC, EXE, complète mission). Revenue is project-based and irregular in timing, with long project cycles typical of architecture practice.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Atelier d'Architecture RIVAT is a French architecture firm that provides integrated architectural design and engineering services for new construction and renovation projects across housing, healthcare, education, industrial, commercial, and historic monument typologies. Its core specialty is Passivhaus and EnerPHit-certified design using biosourced materials (wood-straw construction), supported by an in-house R&D cell that conducts building performance monitoring and applies drone photogrammetry, 3D scanning, and 3D printing. The firm operates as a SARL with ~25 collaborators including 13 architects, of whom 9 are CEPH (European Passivhaus Designer) certified.

Product overview

Atelier d'Architecture RIVAT is an architecture firm specializing in passive house (Passivhaus) design and sustainable construction. The firm offers integrated architectural services across multiple building typologies including residential, healthcare, educational, and commercial projects. Their core expertise lies in Passivhaus certification consulting, wood and straw construction using biosourced materials, and energy-efficient building renovation with EnerPHit standards. The firm operates with a multidisciplinary team of approximately 25 collaborators including architects, engineers, and economists, with strong expertise in low-carbon, decarbonized architecture. Their portfolio includes both new construction and renovation projects, with services ranging from design to full project delivery including monitoring and performance analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Passivhaus Architecture Design Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Heating demand <15 kWh/m².an for Passivhaus-certified buildings; EnerPHit renovation standard <20 kWh/m².an
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• La Maison PassivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtelier d'Architecture RIVAT is a member of the board of directors (administrateur) of La Maison Passive France. The firm collaborates on conferences, shares R&D data, and participates in Passivhaus standard promotion activities. Julien RIVAT serves as a thought leader representing the organisation at industry events.
• FIBOIS (Fibois Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIVAT is a member of FIBOIS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the regional wood construction federation. The firm is also a member of the board of FIBOIS 42, enabling access to the biosourced materials supply chain and participation in regional wood construction initiatives.
• RFCP (Réseau Français de la Construction Paille)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIVAT is a member of the French Straw Construction Network, holding Pro Paille certification training for collaborators. The firm is a recognised pioneer in straw insulation construction, with 18 certified Passivhaus houses in wood and straw.
• VAD (Ville et Aménagement Durable)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIVAT is a member of VAD (Ville et Aménagement Durable), a network of municipalities and professionals dedicated to sustainable urban development.
• ENGIBATcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerENGIBAT is the structural and construction economics bureau that shares Atelier d'Architecture RIVAT's headquarters. This co-location enables tight integration of engineering and architectural creativity. ENGIBAT serves as BET Structure et économie on the vast majority of RIVAT projects.
• HéliasolcoreTechnology or IntegrationHéliasol is the thermal engineering and Passivhaus certification bureau that collaborates with RIVAT across most of its passive building projects, providing thermal design, CEPH certification support, and energy performance monitoring. Notable collaborations include joint conference presentations comparing summer comfort across construction methods.
• FEMAT / Ma Maison PassiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRIVAT collaborated with FEMAT (materials and eco-construction solutions) on films produced for the 'Ma Maison Passive' subsidiary, featuring RIVAT projects and interviewing Julien RIVAT on passive construction costs, advantages, and limitations.
• Alec42, EkopolisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIVAT maintains partnerships with Alec42 and Ekopolis, regional organisations promoting sustainable construction and environmental quality in the building sector.
• ARCHIPENTEminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerARCHIPENTE is an associated architecture firm working with RIVAT on the Collège Albert Einstein project (Magny-Les-Hameaux) as part of the project mandataire Maitre CUBE consortium.
• SPIE BatignollesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSPIE Batignolles is the lead contractor in the consortium with RIVAT for the Thonon-les-Bains leisure complex competition. Also partnered on the Roanne administrative centre renovation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Architecture-Studio: Major French architecture practice with global footprint delivering cultural, educational and urban projects. Overlaps with RIVAT in institutional architecture and increasingly in sustainable design, but at much greater scale and broader scope.
• Patriarche Group: Large French architecture and engineering group covering residential, commercial, healthcare and education. Comparable in tackling complex institutional projects across France, with broader service portfolio including engineering and interior design.
• Atelier Jean-Paul Viguier: Established French architecture practice delivering major urban, cultural and commercial projects. Competes with RIVAT for high-visibility French institutional and commercial commissions, but with a broader portfolio that includes non-sustainable briefs.

Direct peers

• Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes: Paris/Vienna architecture practice known for infrastructure, cultural and educational projects emphasising lightness and environmental integration. Comparable to RIVAT in combining technical rigour with thoughtful material use on European institutional mandates.
• Baumschlager Eberle: International architecture firm with strong reputation for energy-efficient, high-performance buildings (2000-Watt Society, Passivhaus standards). Closest international peer to RIVAT in making deep energy performance a defining practice identity.
• Dietrich | Untertrifaller: Austria-based architecture practice internationally recognised for sustainable, energy-efficient and timber-construction projects. Closest non-French peer in specialising in Passivhaus and ecological architecture for institutional clients across Europe.
• Atelier d'Architecture Emmanuel Combarel: Paris-based architecture firm combining high-end residential, public and cultural projects with strong attention to materials, low-carbon design and contextual integration. Comparable to RIVAT in design ambition on mid-to-large French public-sector briefs.
• AIA Associés (AIA Life Designers): Large French multidisciplinary architecture firm with strong healthcare, education and urban-planning practices. Direct comparable in delivering institutional public-sector architecture, including sustainability-focused healthcare and education buildings that RIVAT also targets.
• Atelier Roland Schweitzer: Paris-based architecture firm focused on sustainable and ecological design across housing, education and public buildings. Closest French peer to RIVAT in combining Passivhaus-grade environmental ambition with public-sector institutional mandates.

Emerging players

• Werner Sobek: Stuttgart-based engineering and architecture firm specialised in sustainable, energy-efficient structures including Passivhaus projects. Comparable to RIVAT in low-carbon design leadership and building performance optimisation, though heavier on engineering than architecture.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@atelierdarchitecturerivat
• Facebookfacebook.com/rivat.architecte
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atelier-rivat
• Instagraminstagram.com/atelier_rivat

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Atelier d'Architecture RIVAT