Design Tour, Marseille

The design Tour that runs through Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon, Montpellier and finishes here in Marseille late Novembre, is a showcase for young designers and French manufactures and industries outside of Paris, a welcome decentralisation initiative.

Many shops related to design open their doors showcasing a particular collection and/or designer. The tour starts with an exhibition at Marseille’s Palais de la Bourse, here dressed with a « trompe l’oeil » installation since early january, for MP2013.

Not actually part of the tour, but still a nice piece of design, and made in Marseille..

Not sure who to credit this to, this XXXL sofa had a some twins exhibited on the front terrace of the J1 earlier in the year, it’s made of electrical wire sheath, fixed onto a steel frame, and is surprisingly comfortable and good looking 

The palais de la Bourse (built 1854) now hosts the commerce and industry chamber. The central space is amazing, towering at 26 m height with a glass dome, here is the original drawing by architect Pascal Costes, nicked from wikipedia

Interieurs Cuirs showcases the finalists projects of a competition organised by the French leather federation, opened to selected pupils from 7 of the best French design school, with a theme called « Leather out of context ».

First Price: Arteria lamp with leather structure, reminiscent of a vascular system, by Elodie Elsenberger et Fabien Szczepanowski, (ESAD Reims)

Special Price: Leatherize, from Marion Pegoud (Camondo) a cutting and tying system allowing a 3D wrapping of tubular structures. I find this absolutely genius for the applications it allows, see the chair here for example.

Nomadic typeboard, Vincent Rouillac

Resurection, Geoffrey Pauchard. Recycling leather waste

Matelas d’air, Melani Wisssem

Dentelles de cuir, Tom Hebrard and Alexia Venot

Tabouret ondule, Antoine Monet

Variation, Marie Odinot, Julie Kotolski, Chloe Riffault

Labels VIA 2013. VIA stands for Valorisation de l’innovation dans l’Ameublement. It showcases 24 selected pieces of design furniture. My Christmas wish list is marked with ***….;)

Table Baobab, Edited by Moustache, design Ionna Vautrin ***

Alexis Chair, Edited by Perrouin, Design by Jean-Robert Perrouin

Kago armchair, Ed. Perrouin, Des. Jean-Marc Gady

Ring my bell Lamp, Ed. Cinna, Des. Arthur Hoffner ***

Bridge Armchair, Ed. Fermob, Des. Delo Lindo

Shelving Tolbiac, Ed Cinna, Des. Gregoire de Laforest

Jantzi Chair, Ed. ALKI, Design Samuel Accoceberry

Schrooms lamps, Ed Saintluc, Des. Alexandra Bau and Birgitta Ralston

Cuts coffee table, Ed Ligne Roset, Des. Philippe Nigro ***

Collection Range tout/4 saisons: Ed Pic et Vert et Cie, Des. Pierre Caseneuve

Litho Desk, Ed. Cinna, Des. Thibault Desombre ***

Conference room chairs, Ed. Self editing for Atlanbois, Des. Philippe Daney and Blandine Didry

Home desk, Ed. Singularite, Des. Juile Arrive

Coffee table 360 degrees, Ed. Cinna, Des. Roberto Paoli

Ensemble Laia, Ed. ALKI, Des. Jean-Louis Iratzoki

Table Corner, Ed. PLATO, Des. Cedric Ragot

Le carre Orange sponsored by the mobile access provider, showcases it’s own pick of the lot on cool moving crates 

Nolt stool, Ed. La Chance, Des. Note design Studio

Ruche, Ed. Polit, Des. Avril de Pastre

Designer Box, an original concept of 1 Box/1 design a mont shipped to your place

And for the few shops I had time to tour:

Bensimon Home autour du Monde

At Marianne Cat, a Soho-look-alike concept store, I was taken by those ethereal candle holders, by Charlot et Cie

Marianne Cat is also showcasing the AM.PM. collection of La Redoute, interesting as it is a mail-order only catalog, to be able to view the pieces, some with very good practical design

And not to miss, Bobo Boom lamps, which are always on sale at here.