The mezzanine: a design laboratory to learn differently
Dedicated to the promotion of public design collections, the National Design Gallery is located in theOne of the buildings of the former arms factory, whose rehabilitation was entrusted to the Lyon architecture agency SILT. In a vast volume, it consists of three main spaces: theentry, called the threshold; the mezzanine, dedicated to meetings and educational workshops; And finally, the roomExhibition. As part of the project, the furniture designed for the mezzanine made theobject ofSpecial attention.
A unique and experimental space
How to learn, explore, experiment without reproducing the codes of the classroom?
At the National Design Gallery, the answer takes shape on the mezzanine, a new educational space designed as a real playground for young and old.
as part of the project which resulted in theOpening of this new cultural place, a public artistic commission was carried out by Saint-Étienne Métropole, with support from the State (Directorate of Cultural Affairs/DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes).
Ambition: to invite designers to imagine a versatile space at the service of pedagogy, capable of welcoming various audiences – in particular children – without reproducing the traditional forms of school. To respond to this issue within a constrained period, an original device was imagined, associating designers and manufacturers/editors as soon as they order.
A collaboration between design and local know-how
The project was entrusted to the duo of designers Marie and Alexander (Marie Cornil and Alxandre Willaume), in collaboration with the Basque manufacturer alki, recognized for its commitment to local production and specialized in woodworking.
Located near Biarritz, the Alki cooperative relies on a network of subcontractors located less than 100 kilometers away – a strong territorial anchoring, in resonance with the values of the project.
From this meeting between Marie and Alexandre and Alki was born a global reflection on creative gestures, learning through experimentation, and the ability of design to generate new uses. Together, they created furniture combining mobility, ease of repair, durability and versatility of uses.
“We have designed a system that is both flexible, sturdy and durable, where each element can be combined, moved or redirected according to use. The set accompanies a wide variety of gestures: working, assembling, playing, transmitting… »
Marie and Alexandre, designers
Marie and Alexander (Marie Cornil and Alexandre Willaume) met in 2018 at
Design Parade Festival in Hyères. Working in close collaboration with craftsmen, the duo develops objects that allow them to question the materials, their formatting, as well as the technical and cultural history of the manufacturing processes they mobilize. As part of the exhibition cycle present >< future at the Cité du design, the platinum will present their work in 2028.
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furniture designed for theexperimentation
On the mezzanine, the furniture becomes a real educational tool. The designers imagined a set of modular elements to:
- Sit, lie down, work on the ground,
- build and deconstruct,
- Adapt the space to activities and ages.
Among the devices imagined are:
Evolutionary foundations : Adjustable chairs and stools, thanks to the addition of cushions, to adapt to different sizes of children — and adults.
Moving modules : solid oak boxes, reclining in all directions, mounted on wheels that move easily, handle effortlessly, and are as muchInvitations to transform space.
Building furniture : Simple trays, trestles and fixing systems that allow users to compose their own tables.
Color codes guide the assemblies and make the design logic visible.
A sustainable approach
Each element has been designed to last: all the parts are replaceable, the systems are removable and repairable, the materials are permanent.
Furniture thus becomes a support to understand how objects are designed, assembled and maintained over time.
A collection called to live beyond the gallery National Design
Based on this public order, all the furniture – in particular the chairs and stools – will give birth to a collection, published by Alki. This choice was essential for the gallery: to allow this project to go beyond its initial framework and to be distributed in other institutions – thus extending its cultural and educational scope –, but also in thedomestic space.
See, learn, imagine
The mezzanine is not an isolated space. A large bay window allows visitors — including younger ones — dSee the exhibition. This simple but powerful device allowsExperiment while making connections with the exhibited works.
Felt curtains dotted with openings and hanging systems allow both to better control the acoustics of the place, to organize projections in a sifted space and to create surfaces on which drawings can be fixed.
