RESUME/CV
EDUCATION EXPERIENCE
M.S. Architecture / 1st year
Politecnico di Milano, Italy
September 2024 - June 2025
Full year erasmus exchange / Advanced Architectural Design and Preservation for complex constructions Studio held in Italian language
M.S. Civil Engineering and Urbanism
Institut National des Sciences Appliquées Lyon ( INSA), France
September 2021 - June 2024
Double degree along Architecture B.s. Structural Design, Continuum Mechanics, Bioclimatic Design, Urban Hydraulics and Hydrology, Thermal, Acoustic and Environnemental Desig
B.S. Architecture
Ecole Nationale Supérieure d Architecture Lyon ( ENSAL), France
September 2021 - June 2024
Applied architecture trough group projects / history and culture of Architecture
Scientific Preparatory Class
Institut National des Sciences Appliquées Lyon ( INSA), France
September 2019 - June 2021
Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, IT, Mechanical Design, Applied Engineering, member of the European Section
Final
Year Internship
Archetype Group, Ho Chi Minh City, April 2024 - August 2024
Diverse missions related to AI Production and Microsoft 365 solutions), QA/QC Management Support,
Head of Sales Dpt. and Member
ETIC INSA Technologies, Lyon, France
April 2022 - April 2024
at ETIC INSA Technologies, INSA Lyon s Junior different projects. Sales Team Management / processes improvment / Project Management
Summer Internship
Orano, Cherbourg, France
June 2023 - August 2023
Modeling projects and creating families in Revit underground gallery / Managing interoperability
Consulting Junior Assignments
For the sake of ETIC INSA Technologies 2022 - 2024
EGIS / Writing of a technical article ENEDIS / Study of the legal obligations of European CETIM / Design of 200 technical figures AFGC / Study of training capacities and employability works sectors
Architecture Competitions
TERRAVIVA / Apr.2024 - Jul.2024 / The Banaue
BUILDNER / May.2023 - Nov.2023 / The Archit
Member of the Adm. Board
rance
unior Enterprise / +80 000€ signed myself over 18 / Business Development / Quality / Business
SKILLS SOFTWARES
For Architecture / Design
Revit / Drafting technical standards / Sizing an nteroperability between Revit and IFC
ssignments
ogies
Sport / Calisthenetics, Boxing, Running, Tennis City, Vietnam and Strategy, IT Systems Developement (using Support, Architecture and Engineering support
European electricity distributors
mployability in the civil engineering and public
Lodge
Architect’s Chair
Revit, Dynamo, Autocad, TwinMotion, Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Figma, Sketchup, QGis, LookXAi, KreaAI, PromeAI
For Engineering / Business
Matlab, Robot, ENVI-MET, DesignBuilder, Excel, SolidEdge, Hubspot, Waalaxy
For IT / AI
Microsoft 365 Suite (Power Automate, Power App, ...), Python, Flowise
LANGUAGES
English (C1 / C2)
Spanish (B2)
Italian (B1)
HOBBIES
Hobbies / Drawing, Litterature, Chess, Menswear, Writing, Architecture, Cinema
BAHANAAUE
A Backpackers Haven between Golden Rice Terraces and Sky
THE VERTICAL GARDEN CITY
A New Vision for Sustainable and Dense Living Inside Suburban Cities
PALIMPSEST
Honoring Heritage, Shaping the Future
TIMELESS
The Architect’s Chair for a Lifetime GRAVITY AND GRACE An Artists’ Sanctuary
BAHANAAUE
A Backpackers Haven between Golden Rice Terraces and Sky
Location
Year Type
Team
Luzon, Philippines
2024 Hospitality
Competition / TERRAVIVA
Matthieu Duval
Banaue Lodge was born from an architectural competition that sought to create the ultimate retreat for the wandering souls of the world— backpackers who long to lose themselves in the majesty of the UNESCO-listed Banaue Rice Terraces. The challenge was clear: to design a small-scale accommodation that feels as timeless as the terraces themselves, inviting guests into both the landscape and the culture.
The name Bahanaaue fuses "Bahay," the Filipino word for house, with the spirit of the terraces. Deeply inspired by traditional Filipino structures like the Bahay Kubo and Bahay Na Bato, the lodge was conceived as a place of gathering and introspection. Its panoramic rooms seem to float above the landscape, offering breathtaking views that encourage moments of quiet reflection. Meanwhile, the central courtyard—with its communal kitchen, long tables, and welcoming lounge chairs—becomes a sanctuary of connection, where travelers share stories over meals and laughter.
To blend seamlessly into the terraces and neighboring village, Bahanaaue’s design embraces nature at every turn. Two wings wrap around a verdant courtyard, their staggered forms maximizing views of the rice terraces while sheltering the communal space. The horizontal planes of the roof, balustrades, and terraces rhythmically mirror the surrounding terraces, paying homage to the land. Materials like cogon grass, narra, molave, bamboo, and tuff stone were meticulously chosen to echo the textures and tones of Filipino vernacular architecture, allowing the lodge to feel rooted yet refined.
Yet, amidst these simple lines, the Belvedere emerges—a striking interruption of the horizontality, offering a tower of 360-degree panoramic views. This sculptural bamboo structure, crowned by a floating wooden staircase, becomes the poetic heart of the project, symbolizing a balance between tradition and modernity.
Every architectural detail was thoughtfully crafted with my background in civil engineering in mind. The hyperboloid bamboo form of the Belvedere Tower stands as a testament to technical precision, while the bioclimatic design principles ensure a harmony with the harsh yet beautiful environment. Locally sourced, sustainable materials further underscore the lodge’s commitment to responsible architecture.
Whether you're seeking solitude under the stars in a hammock or sharing the warmth of a room with a loved one, Bahanaaue offers a range of experiences for the weary traveler. Minimalist, functional, and deeply connected to its surroundings, it is a place where architecture, nature, and community merge into a singular, unforgettable retreat.
THE VERTICAL GARDEN CITY
A New Vision for Sustainable and Dense Living Inside Suburban Cities
Location
Year
Type
Team
Vaux-en-Velin, France
2023-2024
Social Housing
BSc 3rd Year /
Matthieu Duval,
Ilyana Dziatkiewicz
The Vertical Garden City explores the future of suburban housing in response to rising density and the need for sustainable development. For this third-year Bachelor project, we were tasked with designing 2,500m² of social housing (ranging from T2 to T4 units) alongside a 500m² exhibition pavilion. Our concept drew inspiration from the iconic Garden City movement, blending its community-oriented ideals with modern demands.
Rather than traditional two-storey homes, we envisioned a vertical solution—stacking and interlocking units to create a sense of individual ownership while maximizing space. The design comprises three buildings arranged around a central courtyard, fostering community through shared green spaces and recreational areas. At the heart of the project lies a semi-open kiosk and lightweight timberframed greenhouses, surrounded by Englishstyle gardens and children’s play areas. Each apartment offers an outdoor space, whether a loggia, balcony, or terrace, enhancing connection to nature and outdoors.
Bioclimatic design principles guided the material choices. We combined wood and stone to create a warm, natural aesthetic, while reducing the environmental footprint. Openplan layouts define the interiors, with distinct separations between day and night spaces to ensure functionality and comfort. Every unit feels like a small house, bringing the intimacy of the Garden City to a modern vertical scale.
Central to our vision was creating a place where residents could feel connected—to their homes, their community, and the natural world. Communal gardens encourage interaction, while playgrounds and greenhouses offer spaces for both relaxation and activity. In spring and summer, the vibrant gardens come alive, with residents nurturing plants or enjoying outdoor life.
Ultimately, The Vertical Garden City was designed on a human scale. We avoided repetitive, sterile architecture, instead opting for a thoughtful, finely tuned approach that balances community, sustainability, and warmth. Through architecture, we sought to bring people together, creating a space that is as much about connection as it is about living.
PALIMPSEST
Honoring Heritage, Shaping the Future
Location
Year Type
Team
Meyzieu, France
2023
Mixed Housing
BSc 2nd Year /
Matthieu
Duval, Tanguy Guillaud
Palimpsest is a tribute to the art of adaptation—a project where the present weaves itself into the past, leaving traces of both eras in harmony. My teammate and I set out to revitalize a suburban landscape by breathing new life into vernacular architecture, blending tradition with modern aesthetics. Our goal was to respect and perpetuate a local heritage while giving it a contemporary relevance.
Located in Meyzieu, a suburb of Greater Lyon, Palimpsest sits on a site we previously reimagined for the year 2050 as part of an urban planning exercise. The program called for the design of a dozen varied housing units, ranging from semidetached to communal homes.
We envisioned a revitalized hamlet, where the tactile beauty of materials takes precedence over form, creating a cohesive dialogue between the architecture and the landscape.
Meyzieu, a post-war suburb defined by its car-centric sprawl and eclectic, outdated architecture, presented a unique challenge. Our response was to draw from the vernacular architectural codes of the region, crafting a peaceful hamlet that opens onto the green valley to the south. Ecological concerns guided our choices, with a strong emphasis on bioclimatic design and locally sourced materials.
We embraced semi-collective living as a delicate balance between privacy and community. The architectural composition plays with the perception of space, creating a fluid transition from public to private through thoughtful thresholds—steps, landings, and low walls that subtly define each area. The modular timber-frame extensions serve as shared spaces between homes, allowing the architecture to adapt to residents' needs and pace of life, rather than the other way around.
The use of pisé—a traditional rammed earth technique—forms the backbone of the project. A nod to the vernacular architecture of the region, it’s also a sustainable, geosourced material that anchors the design in its place and time.
In essence, Palimpsest is our interpretation of critical French regionalism. It’s an ordered labyrinth, a controlled chaos, where the beauty lies in the interplay of the whole and the intricate details. Through this project, we sought to bridge the past and present, crafting a modern landscape that celebrates the richness of its heritage.
“It is pointless trying to decide whether Zenobia is to be classified among happy cities or among the unhappy. It makes no sense to divide cities into these two species, but rather into another two: those that through the years and the changes continue to give their form to desires, and those in which desires either erase the city or are erased by it”
Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities
TIMELESS
The Architect’s Chair for a Lifetime
Location
Year
Type Team
Paris, France
2023
Furniture Design
Competition / BUILDNER
Matthieu Duval, Basile Alix
Timeless is a creation born at the intersection of architecture and design, crafted for an international competition organized by Buildner. Tasked with designing an iconic chair worthy of the great architects, my long-time friend Basile Alix and I combined our unique skill sets—mine as an architect and his as a mechanical engineer with a passion for industrial design.
The challenge was clear: to design a chair that not only embodied elegance but also adhered to strict functional and construction criteria. To stand out, we leveraged our complementary expertise, blending architectural creativity with engineering precision.
Before sketching a single line, we asked ourselves: What makes a chair iconic? Our answer was a blend of tradition and modernity—a chair that was both functional and refined, crafted from noble materials with a focus on durability and eco-conscious design.
Our final product is deceptively simple in form yet rich in detail. By combining walnut, steel, and tartan tweed, we created an office chair that feels like a lifelong companion, balancing craftsmanship and functionality. The assembly is ingenious in its efficiency, reflecting the harmony between design and practicality.
Timeless was more than just a chair—it was an opportunity to explore the close relationship between architecture and furniture design. This project expanded my perspective on design, reinforcing the idea that even the smallest object can carry the weight of architectural intention.
GRAVITY AND GRACE
An Artists’ Sanctuary in the Urban Core
Location
Year Type
Team
Vaux-en-Velin, France
2024
Cultural, Artistic Facilities and Housing
BSc 3rd Year /
Matthieu
Duval,
Tanguy Guillaud
How can artists, visitors, and exhibitors coexist in a spatially constrained environment while meeting their varied aspirations? Gravity and Grace answers this question by blending artistic ambition with architectural sensitivity, creating a space that bridges creativity and contemplation.
Set within a dense urban fabric, the project opens northward onto a pedestrian and cycle path, inviting passersby to the cloister framed by vaulted brick arches. The program is straightforward: 500m² of exhibition space, 500m² of workshops, and 500m² of residential accommodation. Public areas inhabit the building's solid base, while private spaces ascend to the second floor. Between these realms, roof terraces— planted with trees—create transitions that encourage both solitude and community.
We embraced a poetic approach to materiality, blending mass and framework, where the solid foundation of brick meets the lightness of a slender wooden structure. Capped with local clay tiles, the building stands as a symphony of textures, rooted in the past yet speaking to the present. The balance of gravity and grace is embodied in every detail—from the heavy earthbound base to the graceful wooden frame that rises from it.
This juxtaposition of mass and lightness reflects the duality of artistic life: the artist, like a monk, withdraws from the world to create, yet remains in dialogue with it. The large windows in the studios flood the space with light, connecting the artists to the esplanade and valley beyond, providing moments of inspiration drawn from the world they momentarily leave behind.
Our design anchors the building in the landscape, with thick brick walls that symbolize both enclosure and protection—echoing the artist's inner sanctuary, where creation begins as a private act. Yet, this retreat is permeable, welcoming interaction with the public. In this project, architecture becomes an intimate dialogue between materials and function, creating a balance between seclusion and engagement.
Materiality was at the heart of our vision, grounding the project both literally and figuratively. Every brick, tile, and timber piece was selected with care, adhering to sustainable principles and biosourced materials. As architects with an engineering background, we paid meticulous attention to every detail, ensuring that the harmony of design extended from concept to construction, intertwining grace and gravity in every facet of the space.
PORTFOLIO
Matthieu DUVAL
matthieuduval-50@outlook.fr
Since childhood, the dream of becoming an architect has been a constant companion, shaping my journey and fueling my imagination. Over the years, my path has taken unexpected turns, introducing me to new passions and diverse experiences that have only deepened my architectural vision.
In September 2024, I completed my Civil Engineering Master's in France, a milestone that broadened my technical expertise. My role as a Sales Manager in my Junior Enterprise pushed me to develop leadership and strategic thinking, skills I hadn’t anticipated mastering so early.
Through it all, my ambition to become an architect has only grown stronger, refined by every challenge and opportunity. This portfolio, crafted in September 2024, showcases the projects closest to my heart after three years of architectural studies—a testament to both my evolution and the unshakable passion that guides me.
www.linkedin.com/in/ matthieu-duval-44264323a
