What were your inspirations for the scenography concept for this edition?

My inspirations go far beyond architecture and design. They are fuelled by the idea that materials are the primary manifestation of all creation. I wanted to make them the beating heart of the scenography, hence the design of the materials library as a central hub, the true matrix of the project. Around this heart, the whole was designed with a deliberately gigantic and theatrical dimension: a scenographic device that does not merely display, but stages material and craftsmanship as the main actors. Volumes, perspectives and circulation have been amplified to create an experience that is as impressive as it is inspiring. The stands, meanwhile, were designed as personal capsules for each exhibitor, but linked together by a continuous narrative thread, offering visitors an immersive and coherent journey. This journey allows the eye to take everything in, in a calm manner, and always in direct interaction with the artisans and creators. This scenography is therefore a sensory and theatrical experience: it celebrates raw materials, sublimates craftsmanship, and showcases craftsmanship in a spectacular form, commensurate with its importance in creation.

What is your approach to this type of event project?

For me, material is the primary source of all creation; it is both the starting point and the driving force. It is not just a medium or a building material, but a living element that gives space a soul and a sensory dimension. In an event project, I approach material as a language: it tells a story, conveys an intention and creates an immediate emotion. My goal is to reveal it in all its power, to place it at the centre of the design so that it becomes the protagonist rather than mere decoration. Each choice of texture, density and light applied to the material helps to bring the scenography to life and build a direct dialogue between the visitor, the craftsmanship and the creative gesture. It is this physical relationship with the material that transforms a space into a truly immersive experience.

This year you have been working on an immersive materials library. How do you see this space within the exhibition?

For me, the materials library is the beating heart of the project, the central segment that structures the entire scenography. It was designed as a symbolic house, a manifest space that celebrates materials in their purest form and gives them a central place. This space is not limited to a functional presentation: it acts as an immersive anchor that attracts the eye, arouses curiosity and gives a particular intensity to the visit. It creates a dramaturgy, almost a breath of fresh air, around which the exhibitors find their place. The materials library is also a place of convergence and connection: it links each exhibitor by offering a common thread, a point of balance that makes the journey coherent and legible. It is the pivot of the scenography, a space that allows us to showcase craftsmanship, magnify the material and give the whole a truly collective dimension. •


photos : Pauline Leprince © Nikolaz Le Coq • Scenography of the rendez-vous de la matière, Pauline Leprince © Alexis Armanet