Maison Auberge: A blend of sustainability, craftsmanship, and innovation

The biannual edition of Maison & Objet, France’s largest exhibition center, opened in Barre Nord-Villepinte last September, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the design, decoration, hospitality and lifestyle event, Terra Cosmos, but the Parisian event’s impact is not limited to the days it is held.

Maison & Objet is a stage for creative exchange between international, especially European, designers and companies in the fields of decoration, design, hospitality and art of living, a source of inspiration and a place to showcase what’s new. Focusing on creativity, innovation and environmental responsiveness, the fair reverberates long after it ends, reaching all those interested in the multi-armed world of design, in many countries and cities.

1. Vases and vessels by Guaxs.
2. Decor by design and production studio Molo, by Stéphanie Forsythe and Todd Macallen.
3. Ceramic plates by Bordallo Pinheiro.
4. Lamp from Empreintes-Paris

Inspired by Space

1. Vallon sofa and chair by Christophe Delcourt, for Pierre Frey.
2. Decorative pieces from the OOI collection, by Studio Mo-Mo.
3. A room furnished with pieces from the Tierra collection by Faro Barcelona.
4. Déchelette’s Inverno plaid blanket.

The title Terra Cosmos, raised at the recent September edition, was an occasion for designers and companies to activate the imagination and express designs inspired by space, which is no longer that far away, especially with the prospect of tourist travel to it, the near realization of the dream of establishing human colonies on Mars, and news like that of the Starship spacecraft, designed to make trips to the Moon and Mars. The designers responded to the title by working with new transparent or iridescent materials that evoke the metallic surface of stars, celestial and stellar spaces, as well as experimenting with both metal and glass.

Exhibit Details

Rounded shapes, painted metal surfaces, vibrant colors, and modular furniture that adapts to new lifestyles where flexibility and aesthetics are inseparable, are the titles that summarize the exhibits of the latest edition of the fair:

• Mineral materials: presented in their raw form and in saturated colors.
• Back to nature: A title that continues to emerge in interior design in a way that transforms homes into shelters for their inhabitants more than ever before, so there is a recurrence in the presence of rounded shapes, natural materials, and the integration of outdoor and indoor environments through huge windows.
• Sustainability: Designers’ products and brands focus on it, showing a real desire to adopt an environmental approach by using natural materials such as linen, untreated wood, light finishes, rattan (known as rattan in public), or cork in the execution of furniture and decorative accessories, and adopting simplicity as a style.
• Earthy and calming colors: In the spotlight, especially during fall and winter, with shades of brown, ochre, yellow, brownish red, sand, and terracotta, these colors are enhanced with touches of olive green or deep blue.
• The work of artisans: A touch of modernity through designers to express a fusion of originality and innovation, resulting in furniture and accessories that are unique and timeless.
• Maximalist style: Maximalist. Back but in an updated, indirect, non-flamboyant way, with the aim of mixing styles and eras, through layers of heavy fabrics, including velvets, wools, geometric patterns, and botanical prints.
• Lighting: Emphasizing the role of this central element in interior decoration. The magnificent light fixtures on display were similar to sculptures, with organic shapes, unexpected materials, and soft lighting to create a cozy atmosphere without forgetting to mention the innovative, elegant, and eco-friendly LED fixtures at the same time.
• Narrow apartment interiors: Taken into account by offering displays of modular, foldable, or stackable furniture without sacrificing aesthetics.
• Tableware: Several collections expressed it in both modern and traditional forms, noting artisanal ceramics, imperfect and decorative finishes. The trend is towards combining identical and different pieces on a single tabletop, each adding a unique touch to the table.

New participants

In addition to the regulars, there were exhibits by new exhibitors, some of whom came from Arab countries. In the second category, Byhand African Artisans from Egypt, an initiative with a vision to make the relationship with each artisan a sustainable, long-term, and constantly evolving process, presented lighting fixtures. From Morocco, Sania, a brand that creates decorative pieces and offers unique art and customized design pieces while recovering ancient and endangered production techniques in collaboration with local artisans in a meaningful symbiosis of art, design, and craftsmanship, featured vases from the Hana collection, made from high-temperature chamotte ceramics, and Metamorphosis panels in vitrified glass, coated with natural oxides. Also from Morocco, Arthub Atelier showcased handmade creations in Moroccan ceramics, ranging from wash basins to tables. From Portugal, Puna Studio presented hand-woven carpets made from 100 percent sheep’s wool. From India, Anavila, a brand founded in 2011 that explores cultural sustainability across the country by working on craft practices, natural resources, and lifestyle, featured cushions made from organic materials.

From France, and Paris in particular, the presence of the Saint-Ouen flea market was special for the first time, noting that the latter is the largest antique market in the world with 1200 antique dealers, art dealers and craftsmen, and represents an address for locals and tourists who admire old furniture from all eras, and one of its exhibits was a carved rosewood bed in the Baroque style, made in Portugal during the 19th century. Also from France, MAISON POLITA, the house founded by Marie and her nephew Nicolas from the French Basque Country, which combines the latter’s cultural heritage with Moroccan craftsmanship, included handcrafted cedar candlesticks in many colors, and the ELISSA collection of tableware, 100% handmade in Morocco from natural gray soil with lead-free paint.

Faces in the Gallery

1. Belgian designer Lionel Jadot.
2. Alabaster wall light, Egyptian-made, BYHAND AFRICAN ARTISANS.
3. Handmade ceramic hand wash basin, Morocco, from Arthurbatelier.
4. Two fruit plates from Bitossi Home.
5. Seletti Seletti.

Lionel Jadot, a Belgian designer, interior architect, artist and entrepreneur, was named “Designer of the Year” and received his award at the 30th edition of the fair. He said on the occasion: “Although Maison & Objet is not a place where I go to shop for furniture and decor for my home, it was an opportunity to showcase my approach to design, emerging talent, and how to build an entire hotel differently, using recyclable materials.”

Last summer, Jadot completed the interior design of the new 180-room, 4-star hotel The Mix in Brussels, the Belgian capital, in the former headquarters of the insurance company La Royal Belgian. Jadot collaborated with 52 designers to work on the project, and the result: the uncommon work followed the brutalist style of the original building, but with close attention to comfort and finishing touches.

On the fairgrounds at Barre Nord-Villepinte, Jadot dedicated a pavilion to showcase his philosophy of interior design by designing a hospitality space, in collaboration with 20 other designers, where they presented a simulation of a hotel room, featuring a large number of materials, either biologically sourced or made from recycled materials. Visitors saw furniture made from salt or mushrooms and textiles made from eggplant suede.

It is noteworthy that 2303 exhibitors, including 600 new exhibitors, representing 15 sectors, participated in the last edition of the exhibition, and a number of seminars were held, discussing important topics and expressing progressive ideas.

In anticipation of the new edition of the fair, January 16, 2025, Paris remains an inspiration and the world’s leading fashion hub for design and decoration.