- Art & Design
From 5 to 14 September, experts and enthusiasts alike head to France for Paris Design Week. Once again, it promises to be an edition that puts numerous talents and new designs in the spotlight with praise. MONO Editions will be on hand with Platane, the third collection attached to the young studio's name. Extraordinarily powerful constructions and a surrender to one particular material together dictated the outcome.
Laetitia Ventura's main concern is the use and longevity of her furniture. As founder of MONO Editions, she attracted attention back in 2022 when she presented her first collections, Papierre and Liège, to the public. From those first ventures, it was evident that her success was well-deserved. At the time, she collaborated with Corpus Studio, a decision that produced simple but ergonomically impressive pieces of furniture. Platane, the name of her most recent designs, builds on this similarly. Underlying the collection is the modular cohesion that the pieces have with each other. Their constructions are meant to complement one another and intrigue at the same time. There is no one-sided explanation for the final designs, as multiple influences bubbled beneath the surface. Swedish Grace, for example, is a movement from the 1920s in which simple lines with a timeless allure took the lead. That train of thought is a smooth match with the focus on ease of use that Ventura considers so important. There is also a clear nod to brutalism in the pieces, with sharp corners and gentle curves being the main elements. 
Extraordinarily powerful constructions and a surrender to one particular material together dictated the outcome
Each collection by MONO Editions consists of just one material, which suddenly also makes the studio's name completely true. This time, the designer chose plane wood. This species of tree carries a weighty history in France. Indeed, Napoleon Bonaparte had thousands and thousands of them planted, making the plane tree a permanent component of the French biotope for centuries. You can easily find them both in Paris and in Provence. Another characteristic of the wood is that it displays an organic pattern, making each piece in itself just a touch different. Although the palette is timeless but minimal, the furniture offers a significant contribution to an interior thanks to its innovative way of handling form. Each piece possesses a particular arc of tension: the result of straight and curved surfaces alternating and reinforcing each other. Occasionally, some elements even make a floating and mobile impression. Combined with each other or just one specific piece: in any possible combination, the designs increase the interest factor of an interior. 
MONO Editions is anxiously counting down to Paris Design Week to present Platane, its latest collection made from the wood species of the same name. As usual, Ventura again worked with only one material, putting the main emphasis on the structure of the furniture. We wish her a lot of success and are curious to see who else will join her in September.
Photography by Mathilde Hiley
Text by Cara Jacobs