Paris Design Week: "Escale" by Pierre Renart

To mark Paris Design Week and the European Heritage Days, the virtuoso designer and cabinetmaker Pierre Renart, represented by the maison parisienne gallery, presents Escale, an original piece of sculptural furniture combining aestheticism and technicality.

Accustomed to pushing back the limits of his expertise on large-scale projects, Pierre Renart has imagined an enveloping seat, like a nest or a rocking hammock, inviting you to daydream. He drew his inspiration from architect Hugh Dutton's imposing diamond-shaped glass roof over the Cour de l'Intendant to reinforce the dialogue and contemplative link between the work and the space, both of which are enhanced by the changing play of light.

Escale is made up of 7 strips of hornbeam that come together like the fibres of a muscle. This is the 1st time Pierre Renart has used this supple, light-coloured wood, whose grey tones evoke the natural colour of hammock cords. The aesthetics of the sculpture furniture are similar to those of the Fusion collection created by the artist, in which the wooden slats move apart, come together and merge with each other with strength and elegance.

In creating this work, Pierre Renart was keen to reconnect with his training in chair carpentry at the École Boulle, and to deliver an innovative, modern interpretation of it, with spectacular dimensions: 400cm length x 70cm width x 100cm height... The scale needed to confront the architectural grandeur of the Hôtel de la Marine, which housed the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne in the 18th century, the forerunner of the Mobilier national.

Graduating top of his class from the École Boulle in 2011, Pierre Renart has since been represented by the in-house Parisian gallery. A tireless explorer of materials and passionate about manufacturing processes and transformation techniques, Pierre Renart combines traditional woodworking skills with new technologies. His art is characterised by elegance and purity of line, while perfectly integrating the function of the furniture. His technical mastery and timeless furniture immediately won over many collectors and institutions with his "Genèse" and "Ruban" collections.

Pierre Renart designs and creates bespoke furniture and interior design projects for collectors and professionals, architects and interior designers alike. A close relationship has been established between the Mobilier National and Pierre Renart. Between 2020 and 2022, three works will be added to the Mobilier National's collections, thanks to the support of Florence Guiller Bernard, the founder of a Parisian design house that has been championing both traditional and avant-garde French craftsmanship for the past 15 years.