This summer all eyes are on Villa Noailles as we celebrate its centenary. Indeed, it’s been 100 years since Robert Mallet-Stevens completed this architectural gem, one of his most outstanding accomplishments that secured him a rightful place among the 20th century’s master architects. Perched on the steep hills of the medieval village of Hyères, Villa Noailles stands as a testament to Mallet-Stevens’ genius and the forward thinking of his clients, Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles, who took a chance on the young architect with the most laconic of briefs: “a small, interesting house to live in”.
Design aficionados know how that “small” holiday home went on to epitomise the perfect fusion of art and design. For decades, the house served as a meeting place for artistic brilliance, welcoming luminaries such as Picasso, Cocteau, Man Ray, and our design hero Jean-Michel Frank.
Now, having been restored to its former splendor, this legendary venue serves as a vibrant cultural hub hosting an array of events at the intersection of fashion, art, photography and design, including the renowned Design Parade, the international showcase for emerging talents of design and interior design. Launched in 2006, and hosted by Villa Noailles, Design Parade has become a must-attend event, dubbed by some as “the Cannes of Interior Design”. Serving as platform for discovering new talents, the event is punctuated by two competitions: design and interior design, each with its own jury and president.
For this year’s edition the two presidents are the renowned, award-winning Aline Asmar d’Amman and Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, both familiar names at Invisible Collection, as they are on our roster of star designers.
Aline Asmar d’Amman will lead the star-studded jury including Pierre Hermé, and Rabih Kayrouz, to name but a few for the Interior Design competition held in Toulon. Besides arbitrating the heated conversations that usually punctuate the jurors’ decisions, the Lebanese architect will present “l’Amour, la Mer, les Femmes” a fascinating exhibition exploring recurring themes in her work that focuses on redefining femininity with a bold, contemporary edge.
Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, too, will be presiding over a prestigious jury tasked with singling out the best designer among the emerging talents who made it to the final stage of the competition. He will also present an exhibition of his latest pieces from the “Made In Situ” series, a more personal body of work rooted in and inspired by the natural materials found on a specific site. Titled “Chêne & Liège”, the installation focuses on cork oak trees that grow in the French Massif des Maures, displaying original designs in raw, sinuous wood and its distinctive cork bark.
Alongside the festival taking place in Hyères and Toulon, there is a rich programme of talks and events scheduled in nearby locations in the South of France and in Paris. We highly recommend the brilliant exhibition honouring the grande dame of design, Andrée Putman, on view in Saint Paul de Vence at the Fondation CAB, a private art foundation recently refurbished by Charles Zana. In Paris too, our friends of le19M, a venue created at the initiative of Chanel, will join in the celebrations. Over the years, Design Parade has become known for its commitment to nurturing and promoting young talent, catching the attention of French institutions in the likes of our partner, le Mobilier national. Some of this year’s competitors will soon have their designs added to the institution’s permanent collection, where they will be displayed alongside important designs from the past, showcasing the juxtaposition of historical and contemporary creations.
Stay tuned and expect to discover these award-winning talents soon on Invisible Collection.
Credit pictures: Filipa Alves – Sanda Vuckovic – Clément Chevel
