Hong Kong aims to become a key design hub in Asia. Last December, Maison&Objet Design Factory brought together over 15,000 design professionals and enthusiasts in Hong Kong for an unprecedented exploration of new creative and sustainable practices. Across five immersive spaces, 120 designers and brands from Asia and Europe shared their vision-blending reimagined craftsmanship, innovative materials, and committed approaches within a 1,000 m² space. Curated by renowned experts, this first edition highlighted talents embracing a design approach that is both thoughtful and forward-thinking. From iconic names to the next generation of creatives, all contributed to a dynamic exchange between heritage and innovation. - Nature, the Muse! : A creation by world-renowned contemporary Chinese designer Jiang Qiong'er brought together Chinese and French artisans in a dialogue between heritage and modernity. Among the nine Chinese artisans, participants included: 李树淡 Li Shuda, 品物流形Pinwu, 辛瑶瑶Xin Yaoyao, 李之元 Li Chih Yuan, Jiang Qiong Er', RRB-Design, SADC, 赵瑾雅Zhao Jinya et 張永和Yung Ho Chang. The 12 French talents were selected from Les Lauréats de l'Intelligence de la Main®, which brings together the winners of the Liliane Bettencourt Prize pour l'Intelligence de la Main® awarded by the Fondation Bettencourt Schueller.
A unique community with more than 130 unique talents. This distinguished group included Aurélie Leblanc, Aurélie Lanoiselée, Eric Benqué, Felipé Ribbon, Nicolas Marischael, Jeremy Maxwell Wintrebert, Karl Mazlo, Lucile Viaud, Mona Oren, Nelly Saunier, Grégoire Scalabre, and the Cité internationale de la Tapisserie d'Aubusson. - Conscious Staging: A pavilion by the French design firm Normal Studio showcased a sustainable living space built entirely from recycled materials. This unique setting highlighted the challenges and possibilities of conscious design, featuring 100% recycled architectural furniture in an environment that emphasised natural lighting and noise pollution reduction solutions.
- Precious Matters: An interactive space curated by Pauline Vidal and Quentin Hirsinger, founder of matériO' and an expert in innovative materials, invited visitors to explore a garden party setting furnished and decorated with a carefully selected range of materials, chosen specifically for their groundbreaking properties.
- Shades of Sustainability (Chromo Sapiens): A showcase of 13 innovative new design pieces, created by leading French studios and curated by Studio Uchronia for Le French Design, each highlighting sustainable processes, materials, or perspectives.
- Terra Cosmos - Spaces full of future promise: An immersive experience by Elizabeth Leriche, inspired by the September 2024 edition of Maison&Objet theme, explored the relationship between design and the environment. This installation offered a poetic interpretation of space and time, paying tribute to the universe and the planets while showcasing a unique fusion of conscious design and colour aesthetics.
The enthusiasm surrounding this new Franco-Hong Kong initiative underscores Hong Kong's growing role in the international design ecosystem. Maison&Objet and the Hong Kong government aim to build on this momentum by strengthening connections between Asian and European creators, fostering a more sustainable and innovative approach to design. |
