Lisbon Design Week 2024 – The French Touch
Last week, we had the opportunity to attend the second edition of the Lisbon Design Week, which takes place in May, parallel to the ARCO Lisbon art fair, the Lisbon By Design fair, and the Lisbon Creative Week. The Lisbon Design Week was co-founded in 2023 by two entrepreneurs, Michèle Fajtmann, founder of From My City, and Julie de Halleux, creator of Lisbon by Design. Their objective was to create a unifying event that supports the cultural avant-garde; reveals new local and emerging creative talents; stimulates the energy and economy of the city by promoting excellence in design.
Lisbon, the new cradle of French contemporary design
During our visit, we were particularly struck by the size of the French-speaking design community in Lisbon – designers who find Lisbon’s unique mix of urbanity and nature an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Many are drawn to Portugal for its reputation in the field of ceramics, as the country has exceptional artisans who perpetuate craft traditions from generation to generation.
Amande Haeghen, a talented ceramicist and former Parisian, settled in Portugal three years ago, setting up her studio in the centre of Lisbon after having fallen in love with the quality of life and the opportunities offered by the city.
Haeghen found in Lisbon’s vast oceanic beaches and lagoons the landscapes that marked her childhood in Archachon, south-west France, but with the added vitality of a dynamic capital. She told us that just half an hour drive away from Lisbon you can find yourself in breathtakingly beautiful, almost secluded places: “I draw my inspiration from nature, and here I find myself much closer to it than before.”
Most of Amande Haeghen’s designs bear the names of the Portuguese places that inspired them: Estrela – named after the Lisbon district, or Meco – named after one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
Amande Haeghen’s installation presented this year at the Palais Gomes Freire is titled Ilhas. Between Faro and Olhão on the southern coast lies a string of lagoons and small islands, “Ilhas” in Portuguese. This inspiration is shown in her pieces through earthenware forms filled with molten glass, evoking the vivid blues and greens of the sea.
As part of Lisbon by Design, another talented French designer, Alan Louis, exhibited his collection of ceramic furniture and lighting against a beautiful hand painted background. We loved his new ceramic pendant light, which can be made to order in different shapes or sizes.
French designer Violaine d’Harcourt works in different mediums: ceramics, paper, stainless steel… She showed a new version of the Frame wall light, made in wood.
One of the highlights of our stay in Portugal was our visit to Casa Do Cura, a traditional Portuguese house recently renovated by Victoire de Lencquesaing of Main Edition. It was great to meet Victoire and her husband, the writer Arthur Larrue. Victoire invited several French designers to show their latest pieces in the house.
We were excited to see the new collection of steel mesh, kraft paper and bamboo floor lamps designed by Sophie Gelinet and Cédric Gepner of Studio Haos.
We also loved the Cornette wall lights that Victoire de Lencquesaing designed for the house. The form of the lights is inspired by the headdress of Portuguese nuns.
We also discovered new talents. Lucie Schweitzer of Fanta-sque showed her handwoven rugs and floor cushions in her atelier / workshop.
Our visit to Lisbon was a real source of inspiration. We loved visiting the designers’ workshops and showrooms and having the time to talk and exchange ideas with each designer. It was great to discover such a dynamic and creative French community that has skillfully adopted and reinvented the codes of Portuguese design. We look forward to seeing how this local scene will continue to evolve in the coming years.
En somme, notre voyage à Lisbonne pour la seconde édition de la Lisbon Design Week a été une véritable bouffée d’air frais. Elle offre une expérience à taille humaine qui favorise les rencontres et les échanges authentiques. L’événement, de haute qualité, se déroule dans des lieux intimistes chargés d’âme, où chaque installation donne l’impression d’entrer dans l’univers personnel et unique d’un créateur, et où l’on prend le temps d’échanger, de créer du lien. Nous avons découvert une communauté Française dynamique et créative, qui a su s’approprier les codes du design portugais pour les réinventer à sa manière. Et nous sommes impatients de voir comment cette scène locale va continuer à évoluer dans les années à venir.
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