Marc Chassaubéné

MARC CHASSAUBÉNÉ :

Under the Ancien Régime and later the Empire, Saint-Étienne was primarily active in arms manufacturing. This meant that local craftsmen were well-versed in designing and manufacturing high-precision metal workpieces. While factories gradually evolved to produce everyday objects, the region’s expertise and know-how remained firmly rooted. This heritage, embraced by great names such as Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand in their heyday, made the city develop into a hub of excellence, starting with the École Supérieure d’Art et de Design.

MARC CHASSAUBÉNÉ :

Once the Biennial was recognised by UNESCO, we quickly began forging links with all continents, including American, African and Asian. This year, however, the Biennial will be highlighting Armenia’s relatively unknown design heritage. While everyone is aware of the delicate situation in which the country finds itself, it is less well known that it was the cradle of design in the former USSR. Together with Éric Jourdan, general curator of this 13th edition and a designer who has worked for some of the world’s biggest brands, we thought it would be an interesting approach to explore this facet of the country we hear so little about. Historically, Armenian manufacturers designed all the everyday objects of the Eastern bloc, including cars, radios and even toasters! What’s more, this tribute coincides with the recent partnership between Saint-Étienne and the Armenian town of Kapan. Armenia is bursting with talented young designers, and we want to support and highlight their skills and accomplishments. Besides the tribute to the guest country, this year, the Biennial also reflects on topical issues through its theme, “Ressource(s), présager demain” (“Resource(s), foreshadowing tomorrow”), which unfolds through a rich and varied programme destined to all audiences. Bearing the same name, the main show has been conceived as a choral exhibition around the figure of the designer, giving voice to nine designers invited as co-curators. The uncertainties of climate, AI and the issues of our times are all sources of inspiration that give rise to a wealth of ideas.

MARC CHASSAUBÉNÉ :

The former royal arms factories comprised a fascinating architectural industrial complex. The heritage was there, but the project had to incorporate a modern dimension. That’s why we added a Cité du design, designed by architects Finn Geipel and Giulia Andi, which opened in October 2009. The Cité du design and the École supérieure d’art et design de Saint-Étienne have formed a unified structure around a common objective: to develop research through creation. The Cité du design organizes design research at the crossroads of creation, science, technology and design. A specific methodology has been devised, based in particular on the observation of uses: energy, housing, flows, technologies, etc.

MARC CHASSAUBÉNÉ :

It provides a creative district to encourage local talented people to stay, but also to attract entrepreneurs from other regions. The city has invested 60 million euros in this project. We’ve set up a business incubator, and nearly 150 start-ups have already joined us. The complex includes a locally sourced restaurant, a design hotel, a concert hall, reception lounges and much more. Just come and see!