Actualités

Unveiled last month during 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen, the outdoor version of the Limit Lounge Chair joins the Normann Copenhagen catalog. This edition, created in collaboration with Sunbrella, retains the original construction principle while introducing a stainless steel base for its new environment. The brand has also added a connector system that allows multiple chairs to be joined together to create two- or three-seater sofas or modular configurations. Available in a wide range of textile covers, the upholstery remains removable and replaceable to suit any preference.

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Economy of means, not ideas

Designed in 1974 by Danish-Canadian designer Niels Bendtsen, the Limit Lounge Chair was born in the context of the first oil crisis. Created with a minimum of materials, it rests on a frame composed of two steel rails between which a quilted textile seat is suspended, without foam or superfluous elements. Lightweight, easy to disassemble, and designed to optimize transport, the chair reflects an approach where constructive logic determines form. Now part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, it is being reissued without compromising its original principles. More than fifty years after its creation, this reissue brings back a design whose economy of means resonates with current concerns regarding sustainability, repairability, and the longevity of objects.

Since 2017, DCW éditions has been developing a family of lights inspired by the industrial world with Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost and Dominique Perrault. With IN THE TUBE launched in 2015, followed by IN THE TUBE 360° three years later, and versions available as wall lights (FLAPS) or pendants (WINGS), the two designers continue their exploration of the illuminated tube. Introduced in 2026, IN FINE completes this evolution. The collection pairs an opal glass tube with a faceted metal base, complemented by an adjustable metal ring. Available in various lengths and finishes, the lights can be installed indoors or outdoors, as wall or pendant fixtures, either individually or in compositions.

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The evolution goes beyond the design. The driver is now integrated into the fixture for easier installation. The manufacturing process uses corrosion-resistant aluminum, stainless steel fixings, and an IP65 rating for wall-mounted versions (IP44 for pendants), making them suitable for seaside use. With this new collection, DCW éditions continues to develop a formal language initiated nearly a decade ago, where industrial references are adapted for architectural and domestic lighting applications.

The ocean is not just a landscape.

It is a territory, a promise. Sometimes a fear. And a raw material, too. The ocean shapes the lands and the people who face it, their architecture, their industries, their imaginations. Where some see only a border, others build boats, invent materials, design objects, and welcome travelers. For the ocean possesses a singular virtue: it forces us to think beyond the horizon.

Creative territories are never born by chance. From the Basque workshops of Alki to the Dubourdieu boatyards on the Arcachon Basin, from Bosc’s creations in the Landes to Starck’s Villa Colette at Cap-Ferret, they all share the same way of inhabiting the world: rooted, yet never insular. Each in its own way, they tell the story of an Atlantic coast that has become a laboratory for new uses, hospitality, and creation—the story of a discreet France that continues to innovate, produce, and pass on its craft.

The ocean is also at the heart of a material revolution. Algae, shells, marine organisms, and waste from fishing or aquaculture: the resources of the sea are now inspiring a new generation of designers, researchers, and entrepreneurs. Our Sea Matter feature explores these promising paths where innovation, industry, and environmental responsibility stop opposing each other and start moving forward together.

At a time when so much production seems disconnected from the places where it was born, all these projects serve as a reminder of an obvious truth: the most beautiful creative adventures always start somewhere. In a workshop, a shipyard, a port, a forest, or on a wind-swept beach.

While the ocean has always taught us patience, humility, and movement, it reminds us above all that to go far, you must first know where you come from.

Contents

Design 360

Design Story

Jasper Morrison and Hay, lunch on the grass

Stephan Hürlemann, circular commitments

String Furniture: silent revolutions

Flora Lechner, aluminum in bloom

Stefan Borselius, between hand and industry: a unified approach to making

Matt Paweski, domestic sculpture

Unknown, Untitled: the future, today

G-Shock, the indestructible hour

Anthony Calydon, everyday armor

Creativ’Impact Award: Creating differently

Ocean

West Coast

Villa Colette: Philippe Starck and happy nostalgia

Dubourdieu, a creative hub

Alki: Basque heritage

Bosc, sustainable craftsmanship

La Boite concept: design in stereo

Sollen: publishing up close

Silvera Bordeaux: The ideal home

MADD by Jean-Baptiste Fastrez

Pauline Deltour, apparent simplicity

Sea Matter

Fahrenheit.Works: synthesizing the essential

Russo Betak: luminous fusion

Édouard Boulmier, sedimentary creation

Designers of the unusual: plastic experimentation

Malàkio, composite by nature

In situ

Oberamteistraße Museum: translucent memory

Rudy Guénaire, rejecting the gratuitous gesture

Expermienta

Sustainable Practices Laboratory: From Industrial Color to Relational Color

In the Air

News Milan

Shoppe Object: An Intermediate Trade Show

Best Fires: Twenty Years of Innovation Around the Flame

EquipHotel 2026 Explores the Many Faces of Hospitality

Calendar

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Find this issue on newsstands or directly on our shop online.

The home as everyday heritage

An interior is built in stages. There are the renovations, the choice of materials, the furniture, the appliances, the objects, the lighting, and sometimes works of art or designer pieces. Each element contributes to the identity of the space. A fitted kitchen, restored period flooring, a custom-made bookcase, or a carefully arranged living room are not just decorative details: they define a way of life.

This value is often underestimated. We naturally think of the walls, the square footage, and the address, but less so of everything that makes a home truly livable. Yet, in the event of a loss, these are the very things that can be damaged. Water damage, fire, broken glass, theft, or a household accident can, in an instant, affect an interior built with such care.

Home insurance thus becomes an essential tool for protecting this everyday heritage. It allows you to anticipate the unexpected and limit its impact on your home, your belongings, and your household's stability.

Allianz: a response to the realities of modern living

Changing lifestyles have profoundly transformed how we live. Our homes now serve multiple functions: resting, entertaining, working, storing, creating, connecting, and sometimes even running a business. This variety of uses requires tailored protection that accounts for the reality of each household.

It is with this in mind that home insurance with Allianz allows you to approach home protection more concretely. The goal is not just to have a policy, but to choose coverage that is consistent with your living space, your equipment, your belongings, and your needs.

This applies to both tenants and homeowners. For a tenant, home insurance covers the risks associated with the property they occupy. For a homeowner, it helps protect the property itself, its fixtures, and the potential consequences a loss could have on their immediate surroundings. In both cases, the goal remains the same: to protect what gives the space its true value.

Tailoring your coverage to the value of your interior

Not all homes require the same level of protection. A studio, a family apartment, a house with a garden, or a vacation home do not present the same risks or needs. The size, number of rooms, value of furniture, installed equipment, and the presence of specific items can all influence the choice of coverage.

With Allianz, home insurance encourages you to ask the right questions: Which assets need to be covered? What compensation limits are appropriate? Which guarantees are essential for your specific home? What is the deductible in the event of a claim? These details help avoid generic coverage that may be disconnected from the reality of your household.

This precision is particularly important in contemporary interiors, where technical equipment, quality furniture, and custom fittings play an increasingly significant role. A well-thought-out home deserves protection designed with the same level of care.

Discreet, yet essential protection

In the art of living, serenity often lies in what remains unseen. Fluid circulation, well-positioned light, integrated storage, and effective insulation all contribute to comfort without imposing themselves visually. Home insurance works in much the same way: it remains discreet in your daily life, yet becomes essential when the unexpected occurs.

Protecting your home with Allianz means viewing it as part of a more comprehensive approach to living. A home is not just a backdrop or a simple piece of real estate. It is a place to live, an investment, a source of comfort, and a vision for the future. Preserving it is an extension of the care you put into its design, its functionality, and its value.

At a time when our interiors are becoming more personal, better equipped, and more valuable, home insurance is a natural extension of the art of living. It is a way to ensure that what you have taken the time to build lasts.

In a context of increasingly stringent regulatory and environmental requirements, the quality of aluminum facades and windows is a central issue for all stakeholders in construction and renovation.

To help provide answers for professionals, the Quality Summit was designed to offer insights into the new obligations facing the industry, identify the criteria that distinguish a reliable project from a risky one, and discover how certification processes—notably the LABEL façadealu and LABEL fenêtrealu, audited by SOCOTEC—can help secure your specification and project management choices. "Designing a building means ensuring its longevity. Today, quality is no longer an option, but an imperative—regulatory, environmental, and ethical. The LABEL façadealu and LABEL fenêtrealu, supported by the SNFA and audited by SOCOTEC, embody this vision: combining technical performance, durability, and responsibility." stated Dominique Thomasson, President of the SNFA.

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The event was a hub for discussion and networking, featuring two thematic roundtables:

• Aluminum facades : balancing performance, low carbon, and best practices with Marc Franco, Coldefy; Loïc Soria, Ouest Alu; Anne Bongrand Gudefin, SMABTP; and Benjamin Allouis, TESS.
• Aluminum windows : how to guarantee production quality? With Maxime Runtz, Somalu; Igor Ferreira, CARE Promotion;
  Romain VIAULT, Architect at Architecte(s); and Christian Verbeke, former judicial expert.

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More information at: https://www.batir-en-alu.fr/pros/les-rencontres-de-la-qualite/

Long associated with a functional and angular aesthetic, the director's chair is now being reimagined through the vision of Ethimo and designer Patrick Jouin. With Sofia, the duo revisits this archetype, infusing it with greater softness, comfort, and elegance, without sacrificing its core identity.

The X-frame construction, characteristic of the director's chair, remains at the heart of the design, but the lines have been reworked for greater fluidity. The armrests form a continuous curve, while the rear leg extends naturally into the angle of the backrest to create a softer, more inviting silhouette.

A new form of comfort

This pursuit of balance is also evident in the craftsmanship of the teak, the iconic outdoor material used to shape this chair. Enhanced by a glossy finish that reveals the richness of its grain, the teak transcends its structural role to become a true element of comfort and expression.

Designed for outdoor use, Sofia prioritizes well-being and comfort with a seat that naturally follows the body's contours and a lightly padded cover, offering a sensation similar to indoor furniture. Combining artisanal expertise, high-quality materials, and precise proportions, this creation sensitively reinterprets a functional design icon into a warm, contemporary piece.

The interior as an expression of lifestyle

Contemporary living spaces now serve multiple functions. We work, entertain, relax, cook, and sometimes collect objects, furniture, or design pieces there. The living room can become a home office, the kitchen a place for hosting, the bedroom a sanctuary, while built-in storage, lighting, and technical equipment all contribute to the quality of daily life.

This evolution changes our relationship with our homes. The interior is no longer just decorative: it supports the rhythms of our lives. Every choice, from the flooring to the sofa, from the countertop to the custom bookcase, reflects a way of living. It is therefore essential to consider this place not only as a space to be designed, but also as an asset to be protected.

Protecting what you have taken the time to build

An interior design project requires time, attention, and often a significant budget. Renovations, furniture, objects, appliances, smart devices, artwork, or lighting: the value of an interior is not limited to the walls. It lies in all the elements that make up your living environment.

However, this balance can be fragile in the face of everyday events. Water damage, fire, broken glass, theft, or a household accident can quickly affect a carefully curated space. The more personalized an interior is, the more important it becomes to anticipate its protection.

It is with this in mind that home insurance with Allianz can play a role. It serves as a natural extension of the care put into your home, helping to protect the space, your belongings, and the comfort associated with them.

Coverage tailored to every interior

No two homes are alike. A studio apartment occupied by a student, a renovated flat, a family home, a second residence, or a furnished rental all have different needs. The square footage, number of rooms, value of belongings, presence of specific equipment, and how the home is used are all criteria to consider.

With Allianz, home insurance allows you to approach this issue in a practical way: what coverage is actually necessary? Which items need to be declared? What compensation limits are appropriate for the value of the interior? What deductible remains the responsibility of the policyholder in the event of a claim? These points are essential to avoid discovering too late that a policy does not reflect the reality of your home.

The goal is not just to be insured, but to be well covered. In an interior designed with high standards, where every choice has aesthetic and functional value, protection must be approached with the same level of attention.

An approach consistent with the art of living

Interior architecture is based on a simple idea: creating a space that feels right and is adapted to those who live there. This process does not end once the work is finished or the furniture is installed. It continues through the maintenance, use, and preservation of the space.

Thinking about your home insurance is ultimately about adding another dimension to your living project. Not as an administrative burden, but as a logical step. An interior is designed, lived in, maintained, and protected.

In this spirit, Allianz supports individuals in protecting their homes and belongings with an approach that allows coverage to be adjusted to the household's needs. It is a way to preserve what makes an interior valuable: its comfort, its functionality, and the attention paid to every detail.

Living with peace of mind

The understated luxury of a well-designed interior often lies in what it makes invisible: the fluidity of movement, the precision of proportions, the quality of materials, and the tranquility of daily life. Protecting your home follows this same logic. It ensures that the space you live in can fulfill its primary purpose: providing a stable, comfortable, and reassuring environment.

Having a beautiful house, a renovated apartment, or a carefully curated interior is one thing. Being able to live in it with peace of mind, backed by the right protection, is another. This is perhaps where a more comprehensive vision of the art of living is found today.

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It was at FUJIFILM’s Milan offices last April that Sumire Kuroda and Masahiko Yamamoto presented the brand’s philosophy, its approach to design, and its iconic products. The event was all the more symbolic for having taken place during Milan Design Week. "Introducing the concept of 'Faithful Design' in Europe for the first time during Milan Design Week is a highly symbolic moment for us," stated Luana Porfido, Head of European Communications at FUJIFILM.

Since its inception in 1934, the FUJIFILM world has evolved significantly, both in terms of its product range and its international footprint. Today, the company comprises over 75 entities in Europe—the first having been established in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1966—and employs more than 7,500 people across the continent. Beyond this growing and strategic presence, the brand is primarily driven by a commitment to offering increasingly diverse products for a wide audience, all while remaining true to its DNA.

A Motto: "Faithful Design"

"Our 'Faithful Design' philosophy is an approach that places authenticity, innovation, and a deep focus on individual needs and usage at the heart of everything we do,"said Luana Porfido. It is a vision that centers the user in the design process, rooted in careful observation of real-world behavior. Whether in offices developing printers or in hospitals and radiology departments working on X-ray or MRI machines, studying user habits and needs is the cornerstone of the design process. "Design is not just about aesthetics; it is also about how products are actually used. Today, we can apply our philosophy to every product we design, even when entering new sectors,"explained designer Sumire Kuroda.

A Goal: Product Diversification

Since its founding, the brand has been dedicated to developing an increasingly diverse range of products across sectors that are sometimes quite far apart. This includes photography, with its highly successful digital and instant cameras like the Instax Mini, Evo, and Pal. The company is also active in office printing solutions with the Apeos and Revoria lines, as well as in the medical field, where it developed a portable X-ray device—a first for the industry. These products, recognized for their innovation and diversity, have earned FUJIFILM numerous international accolades, including the IDEA (International Design Excellence Awards), iF Design Awards, Red Dot Design Awards, and Good Design Awards.

A Space Dedicated to Design: Clay Studio

After long working in shared spaces with other departments, FUJIFILM decided to create a facility entirely dedicated to its design teams, which include nearly a hundred designers in Japan. Initiated before the pandemic, this project was finally inaugurated in Tokyo in 2023 under the name Clay Center. It is a bespoke space, designed entirely by the designers themselves, from the building's exterior facade to the interior layout and furniture selection. Conceived as a research and development hub, it fosters collaboration between different design sections, research labs, and business teams, as well as with students and external creators. As a true laboratory of ideas, the Clay Center encourages collective inspiration and offers everyone the opportunity to develop projects in line with the brand's "Faithful Design" philosophy.

By unveiling its design vision in Europe for the first time, FUJIFILM reveals an approach where innovation is born primarily from observing and listening to how things are used. It is a discreet yet ambitious vision that turns design into a tool for dialogue between technology and human experience, helping to support the company's ongoing diversification.

Clinging to the Aiguebelle cliff, facing the Hyères islands, this iconic hotel on the Var coast has long held a special place in the Mediterranean imagination. Created in the 1930s, it was one of those establishments whose reputation was built less on ostentatious luxury than on a privileged relationship with the sea, the light, and the landscape. Over the decades, however, successive extensions and disparate interventions had gradually eroded the site's coherence.

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When the time came for its rebirth, Jean-Baptiste Pietri chose not to restore what existed, but to rebuild in order to rediscover the site's original spirit. This was achieved with the intelligence, vision, and patience required for the 13 years it took to complete this complex, ambitious project—one that is at once monumental and almost discreet. It is an approach that might seem paradoxical, yet it is undoubtedly the key to understanding the project: recovering a lost sense of obviousness.

A sedentary ship

The primary merit of Les Roches is that it never seeks to dominate its environment. Rather than a single volume facing the Mediterranean, the architect envisioned a succession of buildings that follow the natural topography. The hotel is fragmented, carved out, and follows the contours of the terrain. The various building blocks are inserted into the slope like mineral strata between the rock and the sky. This fragmentation produces a remarkable effect: the project is never revealed in a single glance. It unfolds gradually through outdoor pathways, stairs, terraces, and visual openings. At every level, the sea appears differently. The architecture becomes an experience of movement rather than an object to be contemplated. One is struck by the project's ability to produce a succession of almost cinematic sequences. Here, a terrace suspended above the water. There, a stone wall framing the horizon. Further on, a landscaped crevice that lets in the light. Each movement alters one's perception of the landscape.

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At Les Roches, the Mediterranean is never just a backdrop; it literally irrigates the project. First, in the design of the outdoor spaces: the terrazzo, with its omnipresent variations, undulates like waves, symbolically extending the movement of the water into the architecture of the main deck. This detail, which might go unnoticed, summarizes part of the project's great intelligence: bringing the landscape into the building rather than merely framing it, much like the subtle Klein blue thread running through the interior. The maritime reference also appears in the treatment of the terraces and slab overhangs. Pierced with circular patterns, these ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete elements filter the Mediterranean light while subtly evoking the world of naval design. Seen from the lower levels, their silhouette sometimes recalls a hull suspended over the void. This evocation is no mere anecdote, as the forty rooms and suites have also been designed as cabins opening onto the horizon. Because here, the decor is, above all else, the sea.

Mediterranean materials

As in many of his projects, Jean-Baptiste Pietri pays particular attention to materiality. The project is based on a constant dialogue between two registers. On one hand, the Bormes stone—massive, rough, and deeply rooted in the Var region. On the other, more abstract, white, and luminous mineral surfaces that capture the variations of the Mediterranean sun. Glass also plays a role, notably in the Michelin-starred restaurant L’Oursin (run by Antoine Gras and Benoit Gornard), with Harry Bertoia chairs (outdoors) and Aarne Saarinen chairs (indoors) leaning toward the sea and bathed in 360-degree sunlight.

This confrontation prevents the site from falling into regionalist pastiche or decontextualized international minimalism. Les Roches belongs sincerely to its territory without seeking to reproduce a folkloric image of the Mediterranean.

The architecture seems to have been sculpted rather than built. The walls emerge from the slope. The terraces extend the rocky strata. The vegetation complements the volumes rather than masking them. Everything works to blur the boundary between architecture and landscape.

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The luxury of restraint

This is arguably where one of the project's greatest successes lies. For a long time, prestigious establishments sought to establish themselves as self-contained destinations, detached from their immediate surroundings. Conversely, Les Roches builds its identity from the site itself. The rock, the vegetation, the slope, the views, and the light become the true elements of luxury. This approach aligns with a broader reflection on how to intervene today in territories as sensitive as the Mediterranean coastline. How can we build without erasing? How can we transform without distorting?

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Jean-Baptiste Pietri’s project provides a measured response to these questions. A response that favors integration over demonstration, and dialogue with the landscape over the pursuit of an iconic gesture. It is a form of clarity that contemporary architecture sometimes forgets: when faced with certain landscapes, the most beautiful gesture is often to step back.

https://www.hotellesroches.com

https://www.pietriarchitectes.com/categories/projets

Could there be a better place than Venice to showcase glassmaking expertise? For the first edition of Bel Ouvrage, the French brand DCW éditions and its label 10 HEURES 10 are taking over the cloister of the Venetian Gothic church of Madonna dell'Orto through July 20. Titled "Il corpo della materia" (The Body and the Matter), the exhibition brings together some fifteen contemporary creators and their works, highlighting exceptional craftsmanship. This showcase was curated by Carole de Bona and designed by Andrée Putman Studio within this Renaissance-era setting. Here, the weathered brick architecture contrasts with the formal precision of contemporary glass and metal. Set up as a semi-outdoor showroom, the cloister offers a path defined by the rhythm of the colonnades and the orthogonality of the courtyard, balanced by the free-flowing volumes of the lighting fixtures on display. It is a way of confronting eras and styles in a symbolic journey dedicated to conveying the idea of timelessness so dear to the brand—a vision achieved through the fusion of modernity and heritage. Where architecture is inhabited by design, light seems to breathe new life into it.

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Bel Ouvrage 2026 - Venice ©Luca Bonnefille

Its bold, simple, and geometric volumes, shunning any formal excess, assert themselves with quiet confidence.

"Industrial design is an emotional adventure that involves everyone," says Frédéric Sofia. "I hit it off immediately with this somewhat forgotten heritage brand, which provided me with all the human, financial, and technical resources needed for the project."

Launched just two years ago, the project required an intense year of reflection and research, followed by another year dedicated to industrialization.

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Reinventing a German icon

The initial brief was ambitious: to design a family of furniture united by a common formal language, intended for the contract market—hotels, restaurants, lounge areas, or pool decks—but also, eventually, adaptable for retail and accessible to design enthusiasts.

Chairs, armchairs, tables, modular sofas, benches, footrests, parasols, daybeds, sunloungers… A complete vocabulary of contemporary outdoor comfort.

For Sofia, the challenge was twofold: to meet the brand's constraints while imagining a coherent and original range capable of giving Kettler a true identity, having missed the shift toward design.

"Kettler is a historic and popular brand in Germany," he explains. "I wanted to find a design that speaks to its roots, on a European scale."

Founded in 1949 in North Rhine-Westphalia, the company, with over sixty years of experience, initially designed leisure equipment—bicycles and toys like the famous Kettcar (1962)—before specializing in outdoor furniture in the 1970s. Driven by its philosophy of quality, durability, and comfort, it quickly established itself internationally.

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"Back to the source"

True to his method of listening, observing, and reflecting, Frédéric Sofia chose to "go back to the source." He directed his research toward an industrial aesthetic that is both radical and sensitive: a stripped-back, demanding, and precise design where form and function respond to one another.

Between the Wedge Design spirit of Giorgetto Giugiaro, creator of the Volkswagen Golf 1, and the humanistic functionalism of Dieter Rams (Braun), Latitude unfolds as a manifesto of clarity and precision.

The range asserts a discreet and innovative personality.

"The core of the collection is the bridge chair. In the metal furniture market, there is strong demand for cushioning, but it is often treated as an afterthought. So, from the very beginning, I envisioned a system of removable cushions that are integrated into the design and can be customized to meet the client's needs."

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A durable, rational, and technical design

This is how a collection of rare scale in outdoor furniture was born—one of the most extensive on the market, according to the designer.

The initial versions, featuring soft, powdery tones (green, light gray, taupe), will be followed by other colors.

Combining the honest vision of the creator of the Luxembourg chair for Fermob with German industrial rigor, Latitude celebrates Sofia and Kettler’s shared love for aluminum: durable, lightweight, and responsive to light.

Slim and ribbed, reminiscent of a topographic map, its lines are composed of die-cast parts and extruded aluminum—fully recyclable and incorporating up to 50% recycled material.

Robust, repairable, and timeless, the collection is built to last.

Previewed at Silvera during Paris Design Week and at Maison&Objet, Latitude marks a new era for Kettler: one of design that is simultaneously rigorous, sensitive, understated, geometric, and radical.

Latitude, or the awakening of a sleeping beauty.

"Industrial design is an emotional journey that engages everyone involved," says Frédéric Sofia.

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Conceived by Sam Stourdzé, director of the French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici, the festival was born from a paradox. How can one intervene in the heart of one of Italy’s most sensitive heritage sites (protected, archaeological, and virtually unbuildable) without further freezing the site in time? How can architecture be introduced into the gardens without turning them into an exhibition backdrop? The answer takes the form of an almost childlike word: the cabin.

"The cabin is a way of thinking," explains Sam Stourdzé. "You can think in a cabin, live in a cabin; it shifts the perspective and re-examines the fundamentals." Behind this apparent simplicity lies an extremely contemporary reflection on architecture: architecture that is light, reversible, and non-invasive, designed not against its environment, but with it.

Here, constraints become a theoretical manifesto: it is impossible to dig more than thirty centimeters into this archaeological subsoil, and equally impossible to make these constructions permanent. The invited teams have a few months to build, use, and then dismantle their projects. This short, almost fragile temporality radically reverses the logic inherited from the 20th century. Monumentality is replaced by attentiveness, and authoritarian gestures by a form of listening to the living world.

IT: On the lightness of being and building

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This year, six international proposals are taking over the Renaissance gardens. Some are experimental manifestos, while others take a more sensory or climatic approach. However, they all explore the same idea: a habitat capable of harmonizing with its environment.

Perhaps the most spectacular project is Il Duomo Invertito by the Belgian studio Bento Architecture. Suspended between sky and vegetation, this wireframe dome made of wood and mycelium subverts the Roman monumental archetype, transforming it into an almost immaterial structure. Its thousands of organic elements—destined to be simply crushed and returned to dust once the festival ends—form a literally biodegradable architecture.

A few meters away, Aquifère, designed by the studios PRÌA and VELIA, explores other forms of sobriety. Travertine and terracotta jars create a passive cooling system based on natural evaporation. More than just an installation, the project acts as a micro-climatic infrastructure, an attempt to reintroduce ancestral knowledge into the overheated cities of the present.

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More conceptual, the proposal developed by ECAL with Mutina, under the guidance of Ronan Bouroullec, plays with trompe-l’œil and perception. A simple facade becomes architecture, with surface turning into depth. Here again, the festival rejects rigid categories: some cabins are refuges, others are theoretical devices, and still others are spaces for contemplation.

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This is undoubtedly what profoundly distinguishes the Festival des Cabanes from a classic architecture exhibition. Here, the projects do not seek to demonstrate formal or technological power. On the contrary, they embrace a form of incompleteness and open-ended research. "We are not in a commercial logic, but in a cultural one," reminds Sam Stourdzé. The time spent experimenting thus becomes as important as the built object itself.

This philosophy also transforms the public's relationship with the Villa Medici. Long accessible only via guided tours, the gardens are now freely open throughout the festival thanks to a subtle scenographic design by Studio Marc Aurel, which we featured in an article in Intramuros 224. In five years, the institution has nearly doubled its attendance, reaching nearly 150,000 annual visitors. More than just an architectural event, the festival has become a tool for reclaiming the space, both by Romans and by the international public.

This 2026 edition finally confirms the project's gradual expansion into a broader cultural platform. Surrounding the cabins are now a pop-up bookstore designed with Librairie 7L, as well as conferences, workshops, readings, performances, and concerts gathered under the Habiter Demainprogram.
On June 25, the Nuit des Cabanes will transform the gardens into a living landscape where architects, artists, writers, and musicians will activate the installations well into the night.

As climate crises call into question the construction models inherited from the last century, the Festival des Cabanes appears less like a summer interlude and more like a full-scale laboratory. It serves as a reminder that inhabiting the world may no longer be about building ever more, but about learning, once again, how to occupy it with lightness.

https://villamedici.it/programme/festival-des-cabanes

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Nestled in the heart of this Provençal town shaped by water, antique dealers, and a rich artisanal history, the property embraces a form of almost domestic discretion. More than just a hotel, Jean-Philippe Nuel has imagined a home that opens itself to its surroundings, a place where the traveler is invited to step into an atmosphere before even entering the architecture itself. This approach, true to the architect and designer’s signature vocabulary, relies on a subtle tension between sophistication and simplicity. Reclaimed wood, stone, patinated metal, and mineral plasters: the materials feel as though they have always belonged here. The reclaimed wood adds tactile and emotional depth, while the omnipresence of water runs through the project like a soothing narrative thread.

For Jean-Philippe Nuel, luxury is never expressed through ostentation. Instead, it resides in the quality of textures, the precision of proportions, and that rare ability to create a sense of effortless belonging. At L'Isle de Léos, this design language is also nourished by local heritage: antique furniture engages in a dialogue with contemporary pieces in a masterfully balanced way, intentionally blurring the lines between a private residence and a hotel.

Architectural Objects

Beneath a vast glass roof, the metal bar, the Provençal fireplace, and the wine cellar stand as autonomous architectural objects that structure the space. Here again, Jean-Philippe Nuel invokes the industrial memory of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue without ever resorting to pastiche. The raw metal of the bar echoes the town’s former factories, while the wall of Provençal tiles, treated as a contemporary composition, transforms a vernacular element into a scenographic gesture. This ability to bridge heritage and modernity runs throughout the entire project—from the restaurant, where the proximity to the river and the water wheel invites the landscape into the interior experience, to the ceiling with its “Sarments” watercolors, which evoke the world of winemaking with their deep reds and blacks.

Sensitive Hospitality

The guest rooms extend this quest for a more sensitive form of hospitality: bathrooms partially open onto the living space, while stone basins recall the sinks found in traditional Provençal homes. Rustic floors, textured plasters, antique chests of drawers, and unique layouts—everything seems designed to steer the visitor away from the standardized codes of the hotel industry.

Inspired by traditional Provençal washhouses, the spa also avoids clichés by developing a mineral, soft, and intimate aesthetic, defined by open arches, dry-stone walls, and a raised pool with wide coping. Once again, this is a way of anchoring the architectural gesture in a local collective memory rather than in a fantasy of luxury. Much like its creator, Jean-Philippe Nuel, the project represents a meeting between hospitality expertise and sensitivity—an interior architecture that prefers cultural sincerity over superficial allure.

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More information: https://www.jeanphilippenuel.com/

L'Isle de Leos MGallery Collection: https://isledeleos.com/

Conceived as a holistic experience, wellness today goes beyond simple fitness to encompass rest, mental health, nutrition, and social connection. The "UNICA-MENTE | Back to the 80s" competition invites you to design a hotel wellness space where architecture acts as a catalyst for sensation. Inspired by the 80s and the world of Unica, projects should translate a sensory approach to design through light, materials, greenery, sound, and atmosphere. Proposals must be structured around five key pillars: movement, recovery, mental well-being, social connection, and, optionally, nutrition.

A Creative Call in several key stages ‍

Projects must be submitted by June 22 at the latest. They will then be reviewed by a jury of industry professionals, chaired by Borina Andrieu, Associate CEO at Wilmotte, and including Olivier Bon, co-founder of Experimental Group, Verena Lasvigne, founder of VLF Spa Consulting, and Frédéric Marty, editor-in-chief ofIntramuros Magazine. The awards ceremony is scheduled for early July. All projects will be evaluated based on creativity, feasibility, presentation quality, and overall impact.

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Awards and visibility

The winner will be featured in Intramuros magazine and will receive Technogym products. The top ten entries will also be exhibited in Paris. The top three winners will receive a three-day trip to the Technogym Village in Italy for an immersive experience with the design teams.

How to participate  ‍

To participate in the Creative Call, candidates must submit a 5 to 10-page presentation (A3 format) of their project/concept, accompanied by an exhibition poster (A1 format). Projects must be uploaded via a dedicated platform.

Find all the creative call information HERE.

" Designing a building means ensuring its longevity. Today, quality is no longer an option, but a regulatory, environmental, and ethical imperative," says Dominique Thomasson, President of the SNFA. The LABEL façadealu and LABEL fenêtrealu, supported by the SNFA and audited by SOCOTEC, embody this vision: combining technical performance, durability, and responsibility. As we approach 10 years of excellence, we invite you to discover how these labels are transforming practices within the French aluminum industry, now featuring CSR and Environmental certifications to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Save the date: The Quality Summit

When? Thursday, June 18, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Where? Maison Férou, Paris 6th (Saint-Sulpice Metro, line 4)

Why attend?

The SNFA, the professional trade association representing designers, manufacturers, and installers of aluminum exterior joinery, is hosting this event to:

- Promote certified companies (35 for fenêtrealu, 12 for façadealu).

- Encourage new members to adopt the LABELS, which serve as key differentiators for architects.

- Increase awareness of the LABELS among specifiers.

- Build connections between key industry players (architects, manufacturers, project owners).

On the agenda:

• Panel discussions with experts:
  • Aluminum facades: balancing performance, low carbon, and industry best practices with Marc Franco, Coldefy; and Loïc Soria, Ouest Alu.
  • Aluminum windows: how to ensure production quality? With Maxime Runtz, Somalu; and Igor Ferreira, CARE Promotion.
• Case studies:
  • La Hay-aux-Roses Gymnasium (aluminum and energy performance).
  • Certified projects: traceability, compliance, and sustainability.
• Focus: New CSR and Environmental requirements for the LABELS (mandatory from August 2026 under the Climate & Resilience Law).

2026 Key Figures: A Sector in Motion

The Fenêtres alu label represents: 35 companies, 81% of SNFA members, a 12% increase compared to 2020 + an environmental certification.

The Façade alu label represents: 12 companies, 46% of SNFA members, 26 renewed audits + CSR and environmental certifications.

SNFA labels: unique guarantees for architects.

Why are these LABELS essential?

The LABEL fenêtrealu and LABEL façadealu are the only French labels that guarantee:

- Compliance with standards (NF DTU 36.5 for windows, NF DTU 33.1 for facades).

- Full performance traceability (AEV, Uw, Sw, TLw).

- Independent third-party audit (SOCOTEC) for objective quality.

- Access to government subsidies (eco-PTZ, CEE, 5.5% VAT) via RGE certification.

"The fenêtrealu LABEL has allowed us to meet Qualibat and RGE requirements while structuring our continuous improvement process" says Christophe Gaffié, Sales Director at Somalu.

What the LABELS guarantee

fenêtrealu LABEL: Manufacturing quality

• Adherence to industry best practices: NF DTU 36.5 + NF EN 14351-1 standard.
• Certified components:
  • CEKAL glazing.
  • QUALANOD/QUALIMARINE surface treatments.
  • Design validated by DTA (Technical Application Document).
• Guaranteed performance:
  • Minimum AEV: A3 E4(A/B) V*A2.
  • Controls: Initial testing + annual self-inspections (1 to 3 tests per product family).
  • Traceability: Performance labeling by product family.

façadealu LABEL: Comprehensive expertise (design, manufacturing, installation, maintenance)

• Adherence to industry best practices:
  • NF DTU 36.5 (windows) + NF DTU 33.1 (curtain walls).
  • CSTB/COPREC/SNFA technical data sheets + RAGE professional standards.
• Certified components:
  • CEKAL glazing.
  • QUALANOD/QUALIMARINE/QUALIDECO surface treatments.
  • Design validated by DTA, Technical Assessment, or APEx.
• Quality control:
  • Documented FPC (Factory Production Control).
  • On-site installation: Pre-acceptance report + participation in formal handovers.

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New 2026 Certifications: CSR & Environment

 Environmental Certification (for façadealu AND fenêtrealu)

• Optimal waste management:
  • Affiliation with an approved eco-organization (building EPR).
  • Packaging optimization + closed-loop aluminum recycling.
• Decarbonization:
  • Regular monitoring of energy consumption.
  • Voluntary prevention plan.
• Designated manager: For the implementation of environmental actions.

CSR Certification (for façadealu only), based on 3 pillars

Economic :

- Economic sovereignty : 100% French manufacturing.

- Support for the local economy.

Social :

- Working conditions and well-being.

- Equal opportunity and risk prevention.

Environment:

- Responsible purchasing.

- Climate change mitigation.

Starting in August 2026, the Climate & Resilience Law will mandate CSR criteria for public procurement. SNFA LABELS allow you to get ahead of this requirement.

Architect testimonials:

"Specifying certified joinery ensures that the manufacturer has validated every step, from design to installation. For us, it provides peace of mind on the job site." Romain Viault, DPLG Architect (speaker at the 2026 Quality Meetings)

"The façadealu LABEL allowed us to secure the energy performance of the La Hay-aux-Roses gymnasium, with air and water tightness validated by SOCOTEC." Djamel Kara, Co-manager ROPA&Associés Architects

"Thanks to the fenêtrealu LABEL, we reduced our non-conformities by 30%. The SOCOTEC audit helped us structure our quality system." Grégoire Chamousset, CEO of ALUVAL

In short, the labels represent:

• 10 years of high standards : The LABELS will celebrate their tenth anniversary in 2026, with a 95% renewal rate.
• 100% French manufacturing : Holders commit to producing in France, using aluminum alloys that comply with European standards.
• SOCOTEC audits : A guarantee of impartiality for specifiers.

To register for the Quality Meetings, click on this LINK.

Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby explain that they now wish to pursue their respective research through independent structures. "After more than thirty years of working together, it feels like the right time to start working independently through our own studios," they stated.

Founded in the mid-1990s, Barber Osgerby established itself as one of the most iconic studios on the international stage, thanks to an approach that blends industrial rigor, material experimentation, and a sculptural sense of form. From the Tip Ton chair for Vitra to projects for Knoll, B&B Italia, Flos, and Venini, the British duo has helped redefine the language of contemporary industrial design, balancing technological innovation with formal restraint.

The studio also distinguished itself in more cross-disciplinary fields, ranging from furniture and interior design to object design, installations, and research into manufacturing processes. This diversity was embraced by the designers themselves, who describe it as "an unexpected journey, both creatively and entrepreneurially."

This separation is not a sudden break, but rather a natural evolution for a tandem that, over the decades, has become a major benchmark in British design. Barber and Osgerby affirm that they remain "extremely proud of everything Barber Osgerby has created" and thank all the collaborators, manufacturers, institutions, and teams who have been part of this journey.

An important chapter in contemporary European design is coming to a close, while a new phase begins for both creators.