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The City of Architecture & Heritage revisits architects’ furniture

It’s within the walls of the City of Architecture & Heritage that the “Architects’ Furniture, 1960-2020” exhibition takes place, from 29th May until 30th September 2019. For all art and interior design lovers, this will be the opportunity to enter the world of furniture items that results from an architectural work. Two disciplines that have become irreparably distant these last decades, breaking with tradition of which the famous Le Corbusier was one of the last remnants. A beautiful collection of 250 items, a must-see.

Bringing contemporary architects at the heart of interior design creation


If today there is a major separation between the profession of architect on the one hand, and those of interior designer and craftsman on the other, it was not always so. Indeed, at the beginning of the 20th century, movements such as Art Nouveau or Bauhaus could not conceive architecture without the existence of a harmony between furniture and real estate, between interior and exterior. Sadly, the tradition has since been lost, and each profession seems to have made its specialisation, without possible reconciliation.

Nevertheless, contemporary architects have not quite ceased to be a source for furniture items. This is precisely the purpose of this exhibition, which offers to revisit these unique creations, and still largely unknown to the general public. In fact, up to now no exhibition nor study on the subject had been carried out, and it was high time to rectify this. The space offered by the City of Architecture and Heritage is particularly suitable for this. As a result, all the space that the city contains is used for the occasion, from galleries of permanent exhibitions up to library stacks, which offers an unprecedented interaction with other works.
 Paris
- Exposition "Le Mobilier d'architectes, 1960-2020" à Paris

125 exhibited architects and some big names in interior design


The visit offered through the exhibition highlights the eclecticism of the productions that are brilliantly exhibited. This way, the latter are grouped according to their creator's profile. We therefore find as profiles the design lover, the committed, the researcher, the design editor, the professional designer, the heir to tradition or the casual designer. The visitor will find as many prototypes, unique creations or limited editions as furniture which will have been mass-produced, resulting of a variety of destinies of the works presented.

As can be expected, each category honours the great names of architecture. It is not surprising to find among design editors professionals such as Memphis, Alessi, Knoll or even Vitra, who are at the origin of the contemporary scene of interior design. However, the category of casual designers includes names of artists such as those of Herzog & de Meuron or Isabelle Serre, whose speciality is to have punctually delivered an exceptional piece, left unfulfilled. Finally, the amateurs will appreciate the enthusiasts that are Ron Arad or Franck Gehry, freed from all disciplinary standards for a very free rendering.


Famous furniture and invited countries, the highlight of the show


In order to bring an even more amazing touch to an unprecedented exhibition, it offers somehow out-of-category works, which consist of signed made to order. It includes the extravagant armchair for the Ministry of Culture, designed by Sylvain Dubuisson in the early 1990's. The eye of the visitor will enjoy many other items commissioned by masters of the art.

Lastly, the City of Architecture & Heritage wanted to highlight two countries through this exhibition. First of all, Brazil, which is an exception in this respect. With artists such as Oscar Niemeyer and the brothers Humberto & Fernando Campana, the country is indeed well endowed. Japan is also starring at the exhibition, presenting items that are a veil of mystery for the Western visitor in search of exoticism. Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma and Shigeru Ban are part of this generation of talented Japanese designers, who have marked the interior design of their imprint.

Nearly 300 design works exhibited


It is therefore this exceptional collection of nearly 300 items that has been reunited in the galleries of the City of Architecture & Heritage, itself located in the so-called "Paris" wing of the Palais Chaillot, Place du Trocadero in Paris. Lionel Baisse is the commissionner, himself a former architect, journalist and author. The visitor will revel as he goes along, which will take place through the 22000 square meters of surface of the City. An exceptional exhibition in the heart of an exceptional landscape.


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