The 14th iteration of Paris Design Week, which took place from September 5 to 14, was as usual a showcase for new contemporary creations across the capital.

Fourteen editions in, and Paris Design Week is establishing itself a little more each year as one of the world's most notable shows for all lovers of the art of living, decoration and design. At the same time, the parent show, Maison&Objet, in Villepinte, celebrates its 30th anniversary. With its theme "Terra Cosmos", an invigorating alliance of technology and nature, in September it crowned Belgian Lionel Jadot "designer of the year" for hospitality and his innovative approach to sustainable design. In the wake of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the capital was abuzz with ten days of creative activity.

The four major Parisian neighborhoods were the setting for poetry, beauty, inventiveness and tomorrow's trends. This opus focused on the fertile relationship between interior designers and artisans, who work together to design remarkable settings and models. More than 400 participants unveiled their latest creations in 450 venues that constantly explore the facets of creation and craftsmanship as an effervescent ecosystem.

DESIGN IN DECOR

The event transformed the City of Light into an open-air museum, with a myriad of exhibitions as part of the "Design sur cours" thematic walk. At the Hôtel de Sully, British artist Paul Cocksedge seized on mirrors, reflections and the architecture of the site in the heart of the Orangerie and its gardens.
In the courtyard of the Hôtel d'Albret, headquarters of the Direction des Affaires Culturelles, Studio 5.5 studio presented the Muji Mini House, inspired by Japanese architecture, with a traditional garden converted into a food-growing space.
At the Hôtel de la Marine, designer and cabinetmaker Pierre Renart unveiled the Escale installation in the middle of the Cour de l'Intendant, like "a contemplative stopover, a sailor's rest". This sculptural piece of furniture is an invitation to reverie, drawing on architect Hugh Dutton's "diamond" glass roof. The Uchronia studio also invited itself onto the premises with an XXL bed in pop colors, reinterpreting the French canopy bed, here adorned with hangings and trimmings.

FUTURE TALENTS

The Factory at Paris Design Week has also become a prime marketplace for the world's young designers. A wide-ranging showcase of "MADE IN PORTUGAL naturally" talent and lifestyle unfolded in one of the spaces of official partner Galerie Joseph. On rue des Minimes, fifty Portuguese companies presented pieces from the world of the home, in a setting designed by interior architect Margarida Moura Simão.
This year's event also celebrated the 60th anniversary of the opening of diplomatic ties between France and China. The 850-square-meter Galerie Joseph on rue de Turenne featured some fifteen exhibitors of the new Chinese aesthetic in "Chinese Way of Beauty". Meanwhile, the Espace Commines presented "COLLECTIBLE", by the Meet Met Met collective, enabling designers to free themselves from all constraints.
As for Maison&Objet, the show honored the Rising Talents Awards. These awards recognize designers under 35 who set up a studio less than five years ago. In September, the focus shifted to the Nordic countries. Among the winners were four virtuosos: the Danish duo Frederik Gustav, for their play on architectural proportions; Swedish ceramist Malin Ida Eriksson; Finland's Antrei Hartikainen, who captures nature in motion; and Norway's Ali Shah Gallefoss, whose design is more artistic than industrial, celebrating the joy of the unexpected.

LUMINOUS DESIGN

Time for other highlights of this edition. Le Monde newspaper celebrated its 80th anniversary with a collection of 80 luminaires in cardboard, newsprint and recycled Tetra Pak packaging, numbered from 1944 to 2023. The series was conceived by designers Claire Renard and Jean-Sébastien Blanc of Studio 5.5 in conjunction with the packaging company. Entitled "Le Monde à la Une", it explores the newspaper's evolution through mock-ups, press drawings and photography. The Galerie Joseph on rue Froissart also presented a light installation. This piece offered a tour of the World in 80 lamps, before being exhibited in the editorial offices during the Festival du Monde.
Elsewhere, Garabos unveiled its first collection of furniture and lighting with the creation of Garabos Éditions. For Dialogue Temporel, the Bordeaux-based company founded in 1960, experts in staff and plaster for interior architecture, worked with La Racine, a design and strategy studio, to enhance the malleability and nobility of plaster. The result: sculptural pieces that explore new shapes and textures while maintaining a dialogue between traditional techniques and contemporary aesthetics.
Further afield, the Lodes brand offered its Oblò collection, conceived by Italian designer Paola Navone of OTTO Studio. This series of lamps explores innovative perspectives in the use of Pyrex, capturing the essence of marine design.

NEW ADDRESSES

Renault, another official partner, offered its "in-store experience" with MAISON5. The automobile crossed paths with art, fashion, sport, music and gastronomy in this new 1,800 square metre cultural venue. In the spotlight? The electric Renault 5 E-Tech. This heir to the Renault 5, Super 5 and Renault 5 Turbo unveiled its universe and lifestyle as a new city car.
And to round off this edition, Paris Design Week welcomed new addresses such as Maison Diptyque. The home fragrance and candle brand opened its own space dedicated to art, combining boutique and cultural venue, under the curation of Sarah Andelman, creator of the Colette concept store. Artist and sculptor Cyril Lancelin invaded more than 400 square meters of space with his monumental pop universe. The duo Pradier-Jeauneau also officially opened their first gallery, on rue de Verneuil, with a selection of modern furniture, designed by Sandra Benhamou.

This 14th edition of Paris Design Week continued to offer the very best in design advances, inviting aficionados ever more for a great stroll of discovery throughout the capital.

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