Anthony Authié is a modern polymath. The French architect, who founded Paris-based Zyva Studio in 2020, is also a writer – his novel Baston de Regards, ‘a reflection on the professional experiences of a young architect’, was published by Parenthèses
Editions in 2018. Trained at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture et de Paysage in Bordeaux, he has invented the concept of ‘trans-design’ to describe his joyful, ‘cartooncore’ style, with his studio moving fluidly between architecture, interiors, furniture and scenography.
‘As a trans-designer, I explore the boundaries of visual representation,’ he explains. ‘I also describe myself as a maximalist architect. My work is informed by diverse popular references, from The Matrix and Toy Story to [Japanese anime TV series] Dragon Ball Z, Arnold Schwarzenegger and reality television. I’m very inspired by cartoons and the popular aesthetic of my youth from the 2000s, as well as by music, the art of Yayoi Kusama and Takashi Murakami, and Italian designer Gaetano Pesce.’
What are Zyva Studio’s recent projects?
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Authié has let his imagination run wild designing an apartment for French musician Myd, an exponent of ‘French Touch’ (or French house music). ‘When we met, he shared tales of his global tours, beloved hotels, and must-visit bars and restaurants – all the places that have influenced him,’ the designer says. ‘The project was about translating his memories. French electronic musicians are mixologists, so the apartment is a fusion of inspirations from various decades: a touch of the 1980s in a custom table in pink-and-green terrazzo, hints of the 60s in curved shapes in the hallway, and recalling the 90s with bursts of pastel blue, pink and yellow.’
Similarly fun and fantastical is Authié’s own apartment in Bagnolet near Paris, which he describes as a ‘resolutely maximalist mini loft’. The bijou space, in an old industrial building, has been ‘reimagined as an archive of my memories, inviting people to discover the various subcultures that have left their mark on me. It’s essentially a large box with two smaller boxes inside – one made from glass – for the bedroom and bathroom. It’s like a kid’s Lego game, with cartoon-inspired furniture.’
What is Zyva Studio currently working on?
It has just finished a Paris installation for Ikea – an inspirational, cocooning sleep space featuring Yayoi Kusama-style polka dots in bright blue and white. ‘It was really interesting to work with such a big brand because it was an opportunity to get into people’s everyday lives,’ says Authié, who is also designing two restaurants, a terrazzo furniture collection with tile company Mosaic Factory and a space for a YouTuber, which he says is his ‘biggest and most exciting project to date – a whole new way of approaching society and its latest practices’.
He says: ‘For me, ornament is not a crime, but rather a catalyst for the imagination. I like to think of individual pieces of furniture as fictional characters; I see them as actors in my architectural narrative, integral parts of the play enacted around me.’ zyvastudio.com
Expert advice
Anthony Authié on how to get creative with vibrant colours and lighting
Choose contrasting colours to identify spaces and their functions. I use bold shades with lots of contrast so they can be spotted quickly, and try to create a rhythm in space, as you might do with music. I don’t think there’s any secret to making sure a combination works; you just need an adventurous spirit and a bit of courage to try something you don’t see everywhere.
Using colour in a monochromatic way is important to me. What’s interesting when you use the same colour on floors, walls and ceilings is that you lose the notions of horizontality and verticality. You find yourself in a cocoon-like, enveloping space.
It’s not a problem to work with a single colour in a room. It’s a radical choice, but it can work very well. Nevertheless, it’s always interesting to add layers in different materials and textures – even if they’re the same colour, they create dynamism. Always play with the five senses: touch, sight, smell, hearing, and even taste.
See light as part of the structure of a space. I like to work with luminous surfaces, volumes and lines. For me, lighting isn’t just a design object, but something totally integrated into a space. For example, I often create light cylinders that emerge directly from the ceiling, or illuminated canvases, or rows of light fixtures that create a sense of direction and help you to ‘read’ a room.
