- Art & Design
Those who always walk tightly in line often miss the pleasantness of the journey. Fun and freedom in design are a must for Nouveau Standard, the creative studio in Nantes of Jonathan Fleurance and Simon Brandeau. With their debut collection called 1976 they presented four furniture pieces that are the result of instinctive moments of reflection on a gone era and the matching interiors of previous generations.
Strictly speaking, Nouveau Standaard grew out of Atelier Standard, an architecture firm of the same makers. With this sister project, they make room for an initiative that primarily focuses on furniture and home accessories. Originality and appreciation for humor in their profession are some of the values shared by Fleurance and Brandeau. In contrast to the sobriety that dominates a huge part of today’s sector, they prefer a design route that has above all eye for the unexpected and the juxtaposition of different perspectives. They consider architecture a way to create dialogue between a landscape and its inhabitants. Despite their young identity and vision, the duo has simultaneously a strong affinity with the history of French Fashion and decorative arts. Old pieces and objects that evoke memories and have meant something for the past fascinate them and give oxygen to their own ambitions. “With Nouveau Standard, we want to offer lasting objects that combine heritage with modernity and a strong personality,” they say. On a practical note, they seek various artisans to work with, joined by their exploratory and original use of different materials. Seeing that they want to give a platform to knowledge that is at risk of disappearing and fill in the concept of time in their own way, the studio also develops an ecological and social involvement.
With the pattern of the upholstery, they refer clearly to the characterising taste of the seventies
The 1976 collection revolves around four pieces that collectively look back nostalgically on a gone era in the design world. Concretely, the selection contains a chair, a lounge chair, a lamp, and a table. Like the name gives away, the seventies are central to the designs. Moreover, the studio worked from a love of a rustic style where initially large forms and a multitude of patterns decided the look. In this contemporary interpretation, they let two elements take centre stage: the form of a ball and the idea of a (rounded) cone. Combined with the rawness associated with rustic furniture, these were the primary lead for the designs. Concerning the structure of the pieces, they chose wood with oak cladding, after which these were extra darkened to enlarge the authentic atmosphere. With the pattern of the upholstery, they refer clearly to the characterising taste of the seventies. Even more important than the reference to the past is their goal to make furniture with personality. Design can perform a considerable role in our lives, especially when we hold on to our dearest pieces for many years and they become a hinge between present and past. Furthermore, the appearance of the designs needed to be enticing and guarantee a high comfort at the same time. In the future, Nouveau Standard hopes to incorporate options to personalise their pieces. Their main priority, however, is the experience of their craft and how they give older influences and techniques a place in the industry of today. We will be keeping an eye on their studio for more of this.
Photography by Paulin Giret
Text by Cara Jacobs