Chaise ƒlysée: Furniture design in the hot seat

The Élysée range was inspired by furniture designs created for the private apartments of Claude and Georges Pompidou in the Elysée Palace between 1971 and 1974. The curved seats were originally designed to follow the semicircular shape of Napoleon III’s library – the modern interpretations following the form exactly, but updating the designs with modern materials and finishes.

The new pieces show how lost designs can be revived and customised to suit modern consumers, while retaining a sense of tradition and heritage. For further examples, see our Revivalism macrotrend.

For more from Maison & Objet 2012, look out for our forthcoming show report.