SITTING PRETTY

 

In the heart of Paris, where the elegance of historical architecture meets contemporary design, Pierre Renart once again defies convention. As part of Paris Design Week, the artisan woodworker introduces Escale, a sculptural furniture piece showcased in the Cour de l’Intendant at the Hôtel de la Marine. Represented by gallery Maison Parisienne, Renart’s creation finds a fitting backdrop in this prestigious building, with its history steeped in architectural grandeur—a harmonious blend of craftsmanship and space.

Renart’s Escale invites viewers to reconsider the boundaries of furniture and architecture, much like the architect Hugh Dutton’s imposing diamond-patterned glass roof, which crowns the Cour de l’Intendant. This glass structure, with its intricate play of light and shadow, served as the primary inspiration for Renart’s design. The enveloping form of Escale, at once reminiscent of a nest and a rocking hammock, creates a contemplative space that echoes the fluidity of light within the courtyard. At 350 cm long, this monumental seat engages with the sheer scale of its setting, forming a visual and tactile dialogue between object and environment.

 

 

Crafted from seven strips of hornbeam—a material Renart uses for the first time—Escale introduces an innovative approach to the traditional wooden seat. The choice of hornbeam, with its flexible and light properties, mimics the natural hues and textures of hammock ropes, while evoking the strength of muscle fibers converging. The piece stands as an extension of Renart’s Fusion collection, where wooden slats part, rejoin, and merge, balancing strength with elegance.

Renart’s mastery is not only in the physical creation of Escale, but in the way it responds to and enhances the architecture that surrounds it. The piece mirrors the heritage of the Hôtel de la Marine, once the repository of royal furniture and now a monument to both history and design. It is a striking reminder of Renart’s roots in chair carpentry, which he honed at the renowned École Boulle, and his ongoing relationship with the Mobilier National, which has acquired several of his works.

The installation of Escale is a celebration of the confluence of craftsmanship and architecture. It marks yet another chapter in Renart’s journey as a designer who challenges and redefines the relationship between form, function, and space.

www.maisonparisienne.fr

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