Gabrielle Joinau Tavernier (Maison A&G) | On Mastery, Space and Silence

18 March 2026

Maison A&G has built its practice on a rigorous and methodical approach to architecture, where each project becomes an exercise in precision, clarity, and long-term coherence.

Rather than imposing a recognizable aesthetic, the studio begins with a deep understanding of the client, the space, and its constraints, allowing each project to emerge naturally from its context. From Paris to Cannes, and now Dubai, their evolution reflects a growing mastery not only of design, but of process, structure, and execution.

Their work reveals a quiet form of luxury, one that does not rely on spectacle, but on the accuracy of proportions, the intelligence of layouts, and the refinement of materials.

In this conversation, Maison A&G shares a vision of architecture where nothing is left to chance, and where true sophistication lies in what feels effortless, yet is entirely controlled.

In this conversation, Gabrielle Joinau Tavernier from Maison A&G shares a vision of architecture where nothing is left to chance, and where true sophistication lies in what feels effortless, yet is entirely controlled.

LYTHORE : What were the key moments in the development of your agency ? The ones that truly marked a turning point in your practice?

Gabrielle : The development of Maison A&G was built through very concrete stages.

A first highly technical building, then a first Haussmann-style project, a first luxury project, a house, an entire building, and finally a hospitality concept.

With each foundational project, we were confronted with new levels of complexity, which pushed us to further structure our methods, our project management, and the way we support our clients.

These turning points were never stylistic, but methodological. They reinforced our conviction that comprehensive project control is what allows architecture to deliver on its promises over time.

LYTHORE : The Maison A&G style is now recognizable. How was it developed, and how do you ensure it evolves without becoming fixed?

Gabrielle : The Maison A&G style was not built as a formal signature, but as a way of working.

We always start from the client, their needs, constraints, and budget, placing functionality and spatial optimization before any artistic direction.

This rational and demanding approach allows projects to emerge as coherent and appropriate, without ever imposing a decorative language.

It is precisely this absence of an imposed signature that allows our work to evolve constantly, in rhythm with each place and each project.

LYTHORE : Your work shows great attention to volumes, proportions, and materials. What comes first in a project: space, material, or narrative?

Gabrielle : A project always begins with a very in-depth understanding. First, of the client, through a clear and precise brief. Then, of the space, its qualities, limitations, and technical and administrative constraints.

This foundation allows us to design fluid and optimized spaces for everyday life, before moving on to materials, colors, and the careful selection of craftsmen and contractors capable of executing the project with precision.

LYTHORE : Do you work on architecture first and then interior design, or do you think of everything as a whole from the very first sketches?

Gabrielle : We consider architecture and interior design as a whole from the very first sketches.

Layout, volumes, and circulation are conceived globally. In a second phase, we refine design choices, materials, and color schemes separately, ensuring that each decision remains aligned with the usage, the budget, and the initial architectural concept.

LYHTHORE : Where do your inspirations come from today : architectural references, art, design, travel, craftsmanship? What feeds you most on a daily basis?

Gabrielle : Our inspirations come less from a specific style and more from a form of attention. Attention to well-thought-out architecture, to mastered craftsmanship, to materials used with precision and purpose.

On a daily basis, it is above all our exchanges with clients, our dialogue with craftsmen, and the reality of construction sites that nourish our perspective and refine our sense of accuracy.

LYTHORE : After Paris and Cannes, you opened in Dubai last year. How has this expansion changed the way you structure your agency and envision its development?

Gabrielle : Opening in Dubai marked a true structural turning point.

It led us to think of Maison A&G as a company in its own right, rather than simply an agency. It taught us how to analyze an international market, formalize our processes, strengthen our internal organization, and prepare future stages of development with method and anticipation.

LYTHORE : What role do collectible pieces and bespoke creations play in your projects? Are they designed as focal points or integrated more subtly?

Gabrielle : We place great importance on exceptional craftsmanship, particularly from workshops labeled EPV (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant), of which we are ambassadors.

This is a dimension we are deeply attached to : both for the richness of human exchange and for the level of precision and quality it brings to our projects.

Collectible pieces and bespoke creations are never conceived as demonstrative elements; they are integrated quietly, almost naturally, in service of the architecture and the overall space.

LYTHORE : How do you define luxury today, and how do you translate it concretely into a project beyond materials?

Gabrielle : For us, luxury is defined before all by mastery.

Clarity of process, precision of choices, quality of use, and the fluidity of the client experience matter just as much, if not more than the materials themselves. Materials only have value when they are part of a coherent, durable project designed to be truly lived in.

A successful interior, in our view, is one that imposes itself effortlessly. Because everything feels right. Because nothing is missing. Because true mastery remains invisible.

LYTHORE : In a historically male-dominated sector, your studio is built around a predominantly female team. Was this dynamic intentional or did it happen naturally?

Gabrielle : This dynamic developed very naturally. On construction sites, our counterparts are still often engineers and companies that are predominantly male, but within the agency, the balance emerged without any specific intention.

What matters above all is competence, commitment, and the ability to work collectively, because true mastery is always a team effort.

Gabrielle Joinau Tavernier (Maison A&G) | On Mastery, Space and Silence

Subscribe to the newsletter

Customer service

Country/Region

Languages