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I have finally traveled. Paris for the first time in 8 years. There was a lot to prepare for a long-distance trip after a long time. Flying to the other side of the world is tiring after all. It is the beginning of summer in Paris, and the sky is wide and high, so the day is sunny. It was winter when I came to Paris before, but this time the clear sunlight is beating down. It felt like the hard times of the past had been washed away.
I didn't know what the corona situation was like, so I was very nervous, but when I arrived, I was completely relaxed. I washed away my fatigue in the beautifully designed private swimming pool and sauna in the basement of the hotel. When I went out to the alley to eat, I could smell the scent that can only be smelled in Paris. Even the smell of hemp wafting up from all over the place made me happy. Since I was planning to stay for a long time, I didn't decide in detail where to visit. I thought about what to do the day before or that morning and moved as my heart went, and a week has passed before I knew it.
When I came to Paris in the past, I looked at the wonderful museums to get artistic inspiration. I experienced plenty of famous museums and tourist attractions that anyone would know. It sounds like you've thoroughly enjoyed the history of Paris, so this time I wanted to look around every nook and cranny of the area. I wanted to know how Parisians live, what they like, and where they go.
One memorable old place was the Vanves flea market. The Vanves Flea Market is an antique flea market that opens briefly on weekend mornings and closes around noon. I had been to Saint Ouen Flea Market before, but Vanves Flea Market was more attractive. Saint Ouen is displayed in a shop with large furniture and paintings. On the other hand, the Vanves flea market was as close as dusting off items from the house at any moment. There were a lot of small items such as tea sets, cameras, and small paintings that were easy to carry around after a trip. The shape was similar to a flea market in Korea, but the types and variety of items were different. I was able to feel a strange closeness in objects that I have been using since the very old days.
I thought about old fashioned. I thought that vintage is about finding objects that retain their beauty that will not change over time. It's not like you can make good things with skill and time. I thought it was the result of a person who lived in that era deeply contemplating whether it was a beautiful thing that people could use or not. I thought that I could create lasting and memorable designs only when I focus on people's minds that will not change over time.
A memorable new place was Samaritan Department Store. It had been operating since 1868 near the Pont Neuf bridge, but had to be forced to close in 2005 after it was judged unacceptable in the structural examination of the building. The construction took 16 years, and it took 2 years to complete the interior after the building was completed. It was unusual to provide space for people to live in addition to spaces for selling goods, such as luxury hotel Cheval Blanc, offices, condominiums, and daycare centers.
I thought about elegance. Elegance is thought to reveal the noble values we want to protect. The Art Deco staircase is blue-grey and decorated with 16,000 glittering gilt leaves. When you arrive on the highest floor, the entire space is filled with beautiful, delicately painted frescoes of peacocks. I also thought that the whole building was like a sculpture. It seems that heritage-conscious Parisians have had mixed reactions to the giant new-fashioned department store. Rather than designing it as a space solely for efficiency and sales, it was cool to express novelty while maintaining heritage.
After flowing here and there, we arrived at a plaza with a huge tree standing beautifully in the center. There was a small spice shop in the corner of the plaza where the breeze gently blew and the leaves fluttered. The small space was filled with locals out for a walk, and in the center was written a small can where salt was made. I was envious of the people living here, imagining that they would experience the spices of different regions and create new dishes. There are many small shops in Paris. There are many shops selling small items such as bread, desserts, jams, spices, clothes, and accessories. I even laughed when I found a store that had a bunch of things that were just 'duck'. Every time I entered a new alley, I walked with excitement to see what kind of store this time.
When it comes to Paris, it is food, so I looked for various delicacies. Pierre Herme's Ispahan and 2000 Millefeuille, Pain Pain's rich bread near Sacre Coeur, and Eclair. The most memorable of these was La Maison Fou de Pâtisserie. It started out as a magazine created to introduce the world of pastry chefs. After the great success of their bimonthly magazine, they decided to bring this experience to the real world.
This place takes a completely different approach from the traditional brand shops and houses the most famous Parisian pastries. We were able to find special desserts such as Angelina's Mont Blanc, Pierre Herme's macarons, and Hugo & Victor's fruit tarts. It was attractive to create a space where you can actually taste desserts, rather than just conveying information through paper magazines. It's a standout endeavor in Paris, where it's natural for artisans to create their own shop, and it was great that dessert lovers could experience Parisian original desserts all at once.
I like to see a place where various books are gathered. Magazines, new books, and best sellers tell you what people in your area are focusing on. I was able to meet many bookstores run by publishers in Paris. I have a vague longing for a publisher, but the space of an art book publisher with a long history was an overwhelming impression. Taschen's amazing idea, Ashlyn's color, OFR's raw was awesome. The most memorable place was Yvonne Lambert Bookshop. Yvonne Lambert is renowned as a gallerist for discovering and supporting innovative artists. Rambert, who introduced various artists to France, opened an art book shop next to the gallery to introduce publications, prints, art books, and artists' works. We also host events where you can build relationships with various people.
I met a Korean clerk by chance at a bookstore and was introduced to a modern concept photo exhibition in a small space in the back. While talking about the exhibition, a wonderful grandfather approached. We asked which country we were from, and we replied that we were from Korea and it seemed like a great exhibition. As it turned out, my wonderful grandfather was an exhibition artist and was visiting for magazine interviews and photo shoots. Yvonne Lambert is by no means a small name, but meeting a small bookstore that introduces contemporary living art, writers expressing their thoughts, and magazines that inform people in one place, I could see how much Paris loves art.
I was able to look into life and work, away from a cold mind and overheated thoughts for results. Work in a company is usually aimed at solving problems. We find ways to effectively produce results by substituting all phenomena into problems, solutions, and proofs. While working as a designer for an IT service company, I mainly created systems to solve inconveniences or make products efficiently. This was also a wonderful thing, but somewhere in my heart there was always an easy feeling. I tried to fill an unknown deficiency, but I think I was able to find the answer to some extent on this trip.
A space full of old-fashioned inspiration, a willingness to take the time for elegance, and a chance to show your love for what you love. The city of Paris was more than a pleasant tour. Keeping the values that are important to me and pouring affection into the things I love steadily. Rather than following what others say is cool, I realized that following my own goodness is the happiest thing. I try to experience more abundantly and densely in my short life and contribute to the growth of the design I love. Not a solution that can solve the problem in moderation, but towards the coolness that I really like!
Every Tuesday morning, a designer with 16 years of experience curated Collect design trends.
