Janvier - Creative News

January marks the beginning of a new cycle—a moment when trends emerge and artistic boundaries are redrawn. Between reinterpretations of the past and contemporary experimentation, designers and creators are unveiling bold new projects that captivate with their vision and daring.

Architecture, design, and unexpected collaborations: the start of the year is filled with rich, contrasting inspirations, where every creation tells a story and asserts a distinct aesthetic.

Isern Serra – Barcelona-based Studio

In Barcelona, designer Isern Serra has reimagined his studio as a space that is both functional and inspiring. Conceived as a place where everyone can feel “truly comfortable and free to create” the renovation plays with the fluidity of volumes and a balance between minimalism and character.

The space is divided into two distinct zones: on one side, a large open area dedicated to work; on the other, more intimate settings like a meeting room, a welcoming kitchen, and a cozy lounge. The transition between these areas is subtly marked by a change in floor level. Each room has its own identity while remaining part of a harmonious whole: a round window anchors the lounge, an archway opens into the meeting room, and mismatched chairs bring depth and personality to the kitchen.

Beyond its function as a workspace, this studio is also designed as a place for exchange and connection, hosting talks and exhibitions. It’s a project that perfectly reflects Isern Serra’s philosophy: to create spaces that blend refined aesthetics with a vibrant, lived-in atmosphere.

Credits : Isern Serra

Auguste Perret – A Parisian Apartment

On Sunday, January 26, Simon Porte Jacquemus presented his Spring-Summer 2025 collection, “Croisière,” in the Paris apartment of Auguste Perret. A highly symbolic location, the space reflects the architect’s visionary approach and his radical exploration of materials.

In 1932, Auguste Perret designed and built a residential building at 51 rue Raynouard in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. A pioneer of reinforced concrete, he explored its full potential—not only as a structural element but also as a fully-fledged aesthetic component. Elevating the material to an art form, he used it to experiment with open volumes and rethink the relationship between space and light.

His private apartment, located on the seventh floor, perfectly embodies this balance between rigor and sophistication. While raw concrete dominates, it’s softened by the use of warm wood, geometric mosaic patterns, and built-in furniture with clean lines. The space is punctuated with mirrors and sculptural wall lights, which interact with natural light to enhance textures and proportions.

This project goes beyond technical achievement—it represents a new vision of modern living. Between structural minimalism and rich detailing, Auguste Perret’s apartment remains a manifesto of his genius, where every element interacts to create a timeless space that is both functional and poetic.

Credits : AD Magazine, Jacquemus

JB Blunk x J. Hannah – Sculptural Collection Although JB Blunk is best known for his monumental wood sculptures and raw ceramics, his talent extended far beyond those mediums. In the 1950s, following a formative stay in Japan where he studied under master ceramicist Rosanjin Kitaoji, he began experimenting with jewelry. He created one-of-a-kind pieces—initially intended for his loved ones—that he conceived as miniature extensions of his sculptural work. Each ring, each piece, was envisioned as an organic form, deeply rooted in material and in the artist’s gesture.

Recently, the JB Blunk Estate collaborated with jewelry designer J. Hannah to breathe new life into four of his iconic rings, remaining faithful to their original forms and textures. Among them is “Muse,” inspired by a ring created in 1974 for his partner Christine Nielson, which she wore as a wedding band, and “Continuum,” sculpted in 1975 from a piece of ivory. These rings reflect Blunk’s artistic sensitivity: fluid, asymmetrical forms, with a raw yet refined aesthetic—each curve appearing shaped by time and the artist’s hand.

More than just jewelry, each ring embodies a design philosophy where material and form exist in natural dialogue. Like his sculptures, these creations interact with light and space, offering an almost architectural presence at the scale of the body. By reissuing these timeless pieces, the JB Blunk Estate and J. Hannah pay tribute to the artist’s legacy—offering a rare opportunity to wear a work of art directly on the skin.

Credits : Blunk Studio

Axel Chay x Aurélien Pradier-Jeauneau – Calade Collection

Unveiled at PAD Paris 2024, the Calade collection is the result of a collaboration between designer Axel Chay and the Pradier-Jeauneau gallery, known for championing contemporary French design. Through this furniture series, they explore a balance between sculptural forms and raw materials, while infusing a gentle softness into the volumes.

The collection includes an organically curved sofa, a totem-like bookshelf, massive stools, as well as coffee tables and lighting fixtures. Chay plays with a contrasting palette of materials—patinated wood, lacquered metal, raw stone, and textured fabric—creating a dialogue between mineral solidity and inviting warmth. Each piece commands space with architectural presence while maintaining a sense of visual fluidity.

The name Calade, inspired by the cobbled alleyways of southern France, reflects the designer’s Mediterranean roots. References to urban furniture, brutalist architecture, and mineral landscapes are evident, but softened through the use of curves and harmonious proportions. This fusion of rigor and sensuality gives rise to furniture that is both functional and sculptural.

Crafted with exceptional artisanal skill, the collection reflects Chay and Pradier-Jeauneau’s commitment to blurring the lines between design and art. Calade embodies a bold, contemporary vision in which formal experimentation meets a strong Mediterranean heritage.

Credits : Axel Chay

Aesop – Boutique on Avenue des Ternes

Aesop unveils its new boutique at 46 Avenue des Ternes in Paris’s 17th arrondissement, designed in collaboration with Swiss architect Jakob Sprenger. True to the brand’s architectural approach, the space blends heritage with contemporary minimalism.

At the center stands a monumental sculptural basin, inviting visitors to discover Aesop’s signature skincare products. The floor, made of reclaimed hexagonal terracotta tiles, adds a handcrafted patina, while the deep-toned walls wrap the space in a cocoon-like atmosphere. The original ceiling moldings, purposefully left in their raw state, offer a historical contrast to the clean-lined furniture and the warmth of natural wood.

A dedicated Fragrance Cabinet showcases the brand’s perfumes, and an individual basin allows customers to try products on their skin—extending Aesop’s signature sensory experience.

Balancing architectural heritage with immersive design, this new address reflects the brand’s philosophy: to create spaces where time seems to stand still.

Credits : Aesop

These projects—whether rooted in heritage, experimentation, or craftsmanship—illustrate a defining trend of the year’s beginning: a form of design that revisits the past while exploring new materials and forms. From the timeless architecture of Auguste Perret to the wearable sculptures of JB Blunk and the immersive creations of Aesop, each initiative shapes a vision where boldness engages in dialogue with legacy.

A start to the year marked by strong creative gestures—where innovation is nourished by memory, and design continues to reinvent the ways we live, observe, and feel.