each year maison et objet, paris acknowledges creatives from the past year who have made
an impact on the french design scene. this year architect edouard françois,
designers erwan and ronan bouroullec and interior architects gilles and boissier have been selected.
at maison et objet paris 2011 (january 21st - 25th) the three will be honored and each will give a lecture
about their design practices. the presentations will take place from friday, january 21, 2011 at hall 5B
at paris nord villepinte.

ronan & erwan bouroullec
photo © ola rindal


ronan and erwan bouroullec have been working together for more than ten years.
their collaboration is a constant dialogue, nourished by their individuality and guided
by their common need for accuracy and sensitivity.

they were spotted back in 1997 by giulio cappellini who gave them their first design projects.
in 2000, japanese designer issey miyake asked them to design a space for his new clothing collection in paris.
an encounter with vitra chairman rolf fehlbaum in 2002, lead to the design of a new classification system
for the office under the name of 'joyner'. this was the beginning of a partnership which has resulted in many
projects since, including the 'alcove sofa worknest' and the 'vegetal chair'. since 2004 they have also
partnered up with italian furniture company magis on two furniture collections 'striped' and 'steelwood'
and have developed a number of textiles for danish company kvadrat. 2010 has marked a significant year
in their practice in which they have designed 'oval' tableware for italian brand alessi
and a bathroom collection for axor.



ronan & erwan bouroullec
vegetal chair: blooming polyamide
edition for vitra
photo © tahon & bouroullec



ronan & erwan bouroullec
floating house studio for CNEAI
conceived in part with architects jean-marie finot and denis daversin
photo © tahon & bouroullec









edouard françois
photo © 11h45


architect edouard françois is known for his multidisciplinary work and contribution towards 'green architecture',
in which he was elected international fellow of the royal institute of british architects (RIBA)
for his contribution to the field this year. his work revolves around contemporary topics of recycling,
human use, fair trade, the economy, health and welfare, the seasons, the organic...
he focuses on the principles of matter, context, usage, economics and ecology related to sustainable development
within his 'living' and 'growing' structures.



edouard françois
tower flower, paris
image © edouard françois



edouard françois
volière blanche hauts-de-seine, france
image © edouard françois










gilles & boissier
photo © patrick swirc


patrick gilles and dorothée boissier met while working at christian liaigre in 1995.
gilles worked there for eight years, while boissier left and joined philippe starck's team,
where she remained for nine years. in 2004, they decided to join forces and create their own agency,
gilles & boissier. within their practice, art plays an important role in which they invite creators
to develop installations, such as a vegetation wall executed by patrick wall,
or initiating artist cyprien chabert to paint freehand murals within one of their designed spaces.




gilles & boissier
hakkasan miami, restaurant chinois, miami
photo © eric laignel



gilles & boissier
articurial, restaurant, paris rond point des champs elysées
photo © anna sinkovska