According to Ernest Hemingway, Paris is a “movable feast”. The phrase sums up his long stays in the Ville Lumière in the 1920s. But it is also a good description of what happens in the city during the days of the winter edition of Maison&Objet, with a calendar of events that grows longer each year: presentations of collections, specific projects, or simply occasions for the world of design and creativity to meet.
Dedar – Photo © Andrea Ferrari
It all started 15 years ago, when a group of textile publishers, mainly from the Saint-Germain district, decided to present their collections at the same time as the winter edition of Maison&Objet: the first Paris Déco Off.
Métamorphose by Lelièvre
Since then, the number of participants has grown to over 150, all concentrated around the hubs of Saint-Germain (Left Bank) and rue du Mail (Right Bank). Since last year, a temporary location has been added on place Saint-Sulpice (also on the Left Bank). Showrooms and galleries are open late, and there is a festive, creative atmosphere everywhere.
Saba flagship, Paris – Photo © Andrea Bartoluccio
One of the major themes this year is a magical vision of nature: from Dedar’s “cubist forest”, which takes up in an abstract key the colors of the woods in Flemish tapestries, to Lelièvre’s theme of metamorphosis (landscapes in the making, fossils, graphic rhythms taken from plants and minerals), to Métaphores’ escape into happiness with fabrics called Amalfi, Patio, Oasis and Lodge.
Patio by Métaphores – Photo © Gaëlle Le Boulicaut
Move by Giorgetti, design Rossella Pugliatti
Over time, many design companies – another category that is densely represented in Saint-Germain – have also decided to join in by organizing presentations and events. This year’s calendar was particularly full: Giorgetti presented its Move armchair in a special edition for its tenth anniversary, Saba inaugurated its first Parisian space (as did Giopato & Coombes, a research lighting signature), Marazzi – also present at the fair – chose its showroom to tell about the Crogiolo Lume collection, Bisazza presented its new collaboration with Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas.
Giopato & Coombes gallery, Paris – Photo © Studio Brinth
Crogiolo Lume by Marazzi
Meridiani, in its flagship store, presented its outdoor collection (never before shown in its spaces), while Battilossi presented the “Battilossi Moodboard” concept, an expression of the brand’s new approach to interior design.
Marmosaico by Bisazza, design D. & M. Fuksas
Open Air collection by Meridiani, design Andrea Parisio
Among the most exciting installations were those by Pierre Frey, who filled an entire hôtel particulier, which has been uninhabited for years, with his fabric and wallpaper collections; and the two “houses” created by Baxter and Gallotti & Radice in collaboration with Silvera.
Bowtie by Battilossi
Baxter
To show how much interior decoration and design is felt in Paris, Maison&Objet has also created Maison&Objet in the City, a list (very up-to-date and conceived from a B2B perspective) of the 100 “addresses that matter”” that make up the Parisian ecosystem of excellence in this field: interior designers, interior architects, galleries, grand houses and exceptional artisans.
Pierre Frey
Gallotti & Radice
