- Art & Design
At the beginning of this month, PAD Paris took place, a defining moment for many leading voices within the design world. Among them this year was Charles Zana. As an architect and designer, he has long earned his stripes; his recent furniture collection is a definitive confirmation of that. For those who did not get the chance to admire his work at the fair itself, we are happy to bring up to date. One thing we give away in advance: it was more than worth it.
Since 1998, PAD has been an annual key moment for designers in France and far beyond. As a meeting place for national and international galleries, the fair promotes a rich cross-pollination between historical and contemporary design. As a reflection on the current climate, the event proves each time to be crucial for the interaction between the aesthetics of the time and innovation. Charles Zana has by now become an established name for the organisers. Somewhere between form and material, he creates his own terrain that makes room for both light and shadow. In every design and object, he hunts for a sense beyond the purely visual. Meaning is central to him, as is organic sensuality. At the 2024 fair, he exhibited an exclusive collection that owes much to leading French traditions. He mixes that hark-back to history with a modern allure, good for a hard-to-define déjà vu with contemporary undertones. Proportion, comfort and elegance are the main needs the pieces had to meet. This proved no problem, as his inherent talent and craftsmanship are flawless. As a designer, he possesses a rare instinct for the right scale and perfectly senses which proportions produce the best results. To execute the designs, he has exceptional artisans at his disposal. They often pass on their skills from generation to generation; the perfect parties to put precious materials in their hands, in other words. 
Meeting place for national and international galleries; cross-pollination between historical and contemporary design
We are happy to go into detail by telling you about three specific pieces. For instance, the collection includes the Symi lamp. Heavily inspired by the Mediterranean, it is characterised by the tension between the relief of the base and the textile of the lampshade. The former is made of stained and brushed cedar wood. With its name, the lamp refers to the Greek countryside. Next, the rocking chair named Rimbaud occupies a central position within the collection. In fact, the piece was designed for a project in Sardinia. In terms of content, it is a reflection on garden furniture and the urge to place such pieces indoors as well. The seat is made of woven leather and the frame is metal. Both materials complement the other and converge into a contemplative piece. Third, we dwell on Franck, an armchair inspired by the work of Jean-Michel Frank. The slender seat is curved and beautifully executed in patinated bronze. Crucial here is the idea of proportions that complement each other, which you can also infer from the arms and legs that look fluid and play with their resemblance to molten glass. 
PAD Paris 2024 is a fixed address for many lovers of varied design. Later this year, the London edition will take place in October, where no doubt a lot of big and emerging names will show their best once again. When the time comes, we will be happy to keep you up to date again with some of the high-profile pieces that will be on show there. 
Header image: Verlaine Cupboard, © Studio de Marie
Image 2: Cocteau Side Table, © Studio de Marie
Image 3: Symi Lamp, © Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt
Image 4: PAD Paris 2024, Warton Chair, © Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt
Image 5: Chios Cedar Lamp, © Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt
Image 6: Franck Easy Chair, © Gaspard Hermach
Image 7: Verlaine Cupboard, © Studio de Marie
Image 8: Nerval Sofa, © Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt
Image 9: Large Edge Three Coffee Table, © Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt
Image 10: PAD Paris 2024, Rimbaud Rocking Chair, © Gaspard Hermach
Image 11: Edge One Side Table, © Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt
Image 12: Milos Lamp; © Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt
Text by Cara Jacobs