The “Les Choses” publishing house was established on the initiative of Pierre Vuilmet in 2017. With a background in architecture, he had, for some years, demonstrated an unconditional commitment to the enhancement of materials through design.

In 2015, having completed a number of major lighting design projects in Paris and in Provence, he decided to establish an independent structure which would allow the realization of a certain ideal notion of “doing”.

His declared intention was to restore the purpose and the essential qualities of any given object, project or creation. Frequently restricted to the design of one-off projects, he wished to bring the same discipline, the same rigorous standards and the same excellence to the  production of mass-produced objects.

For the realization of this ideal, and as a passionate advocate of the “made in France” principle, Pierre Vuilmet called upon the services of a network of craftsmen, forged over a period of years, mainly in Provence and in Normandy. Driven by a commitment to the realization of high-quality pieces with a contemporary stamp, no concessions are made in the selection and processing of raw materials.

Through the services of this team, hand-picked for their expertise, the objective of the “Les Choses” house is the creation of a collection of “series”, each based upon the exploration of universal theme. Challenging the collective imagination, the house produced its first series in 2017, based upon the key theme of “Fire”, and bearing the signature of Yoan Claveau de Lima.
More than just a series of objects, this collection embodies the founding principle of the “Les Choses” house, which will undoubtedly shift the boundaries of contemporary design.

Fire

The spark of original fire, joyful fire or spiritual fire. Fire in the hearth. Fire is our home.

This first series produced by the Les Choses house is an aesthetic exploration of this primary element. With their bold lines and brutalist design, the 4 braziers presented reflect the commitment of designer Yoan Claveau de Lima not to allow form to be dictated by function. These pieces, designed as true sculptures, are steel monoliths which embody this secular need of human beings to rationalize the natural force of flame.

After a number months of prototyping in situ, Yoan Claveau de Lima arrived at the ideal composition and the correct assemblies for the achievement of pieces which are capable of resisting rising temperatures. The use of corten steel, with its predisposition for self-patination, ensures the long-term durability of these pieces.
This combination of linear tension, the brutality of the material and the sensuality of flames endows this series with a relevance which is both aesthetic and functional. Rather than a symbolic opposition, these pieces represent an elemental embodiment, which is shared with its surroundings: a firmly-rooted object with multiple facets, bringing us close to fire and its nourishing power.
The robustness of these pieces, their non-corroding material construction and the sincerity of their design establish them as works with a quality of intergenerational contemporaneity.
The LES CHOSES publishing house, in collaboration with YCL, has risen to the challenge of satisfying the tastes of aesthetes and the gourmets.

Biography of founder

Pierre Vuilmet was born in Normandy in 1984.

After training in the fine arts in Caen, he graduated from ENSA school of architecture in Paris la Villette in 2010.

Cultivating an interest in both graphical and spatial creations, his working focus turned to the exploration of light.

In 2014, he established the Photon Studio in Marseille, a structure which allowed him to work with complete independence, and in his own name.
Involved with high-end and ambitious projects at that time, for both private and public sector clients (the Domaine de Miraval leisure park, the Triton offices in Monaco, the Tour Maubourg apartment development in Paris, etc.), he worked mainly on the production of light fixtures and the installation of unique and off-spec lighting systems.

In 2017, driven by the desire to enrich the scope of his productive operations, specifically by the creation of mass-produced objects, he founded the Les Choses publishing house.

Constantly motivated by an unquenchable thirst for “doing”, Pierre Vuilmet brings the same tenacity to all his projects.

Biography of designer

Yoan Claveau de Lima was born in Recife, Brazil, in 1985.
After graduating from the ENSA school of architecture in Paris la Villette in 2010, he founded the CABCAB firm of architects in Montpellier in 2012, where he has worked since.
His creative and design work encompasses a broad spectrum, from architectural structures through to objects, and includes works of art. He is driven by a taste for elegance and simplicity, not forgetting the purpose and the vitality of objects. 
A devotee of both composition and proportions, his work challenges the concept of design, while his works reflect the committed pursuit of relevance and balance.