Biography

Robin Bourgeois, a designer, earned his degree at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. He designs simple objects that can be naturally and durably integrated into our daily lives. Through his objects and exhibitions, he has developed a spare formal style that highlights a socially committed craftsmanship and celebrates materials. He strives to make the most of existing materials and artisanal know-how to reinvent their uses.

Research project conducted at the Foundation

Robin Bourgeois’ residency was a creative project focusing on basketweaving with chestnut, a local resource that has been documented at Labo Almanach and a craft that is endemic to the area. Starting with the “Le Corbusier” armchairs produced in the Limoges area by the Raffier et Dupasquier basketweaving studios, and following on a series of interviews concerning chestnut as a resource, the designer has proposed alternative ways of transforming and adapting this practice.

Results of the residency

Before undertaking a re-design of the iconic armchair with the basketweavers of the Haute-Vienne region, Bourgeois designed two small objects in chestnut: a lamp and a stool. As interpretive objects, they enabled him to establish a technical and cultural dialogue with the artisans. He has sought to render this heritage desirable and to engage the living resources of this area anew. The prototype and the design phases reveal the potential of a material whose use remains physical and, in some way, rudimentary. Bourgeois pursued his search for forms whose use relies on local craftsmanship, for example by adding a lampshade to the lamp that was made using locally sourced paper.

Inclusion in Labo Almanach

Robin Bourgeois’ methods often come from the world of design in that they analyze and apply production expertise to the fabrication of new objects. In this process, the interactions with the artisans who hold these production skills have helped the designer to question his own design capacities in a setting where the tools remain in the artisan’s hands. The issue of negotiating knowledge in order to come to an understanding and engage in a co-production has become central to this approach. Thus, details of the fabrication process, formal propositions, fabrication costs, the supply of straps, paper, and other materials became key aspects of a project. All of these situational constraints provided an area of research that the designer began to explore with this project.

Resources involved

• AMCL – Chestnut and Horse-Chestnut Association, Dournazac
• Doumain Basketry, La Chapelle-Montbrandeix
• The Périgord Limousin Regional Natural Park
• Gabillou Strapmaking Workshop, Pageas
• Creations in Chestnut by Alain Dupasquier, Aixe sur Vienne