Click to download the "Jianze - Zhu Brochure 2025".

——————————

From March 7th to 10th this year, Jianze took part in MATTER and SHAPE (2025) in Paris, presenting the latest results of the Chinese Bamboo Research Project done with Ville Kokkonen.

MATTER and SHAPE

A New World Design Culture Gathering

MATTER and SHAPE, a design salon during Paris Fashion Week, aims to celebrate global design culture and showcase diverse projects from around the world, including industrial design, interior design, fashion and decoration, to promote exchanges among designers, architects, collectors and trendsetters.

The year 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris Expo. The second MATTER and SHAPE, inspired by this key moment in design history, has created mirrored exhibition spaces in the historic Tuileries Garden by the Seine to pay tribute to early modernism in new architectural forms. Well-known brands like byredo, RDAI, Flos, FRAMA, Vitra and Sacai have gathered here to showcase their latest designs.

Jianze's booth at MATTER and SHAPE

Chinese Bamboo Research Project

As the only Chinese brand at the fair, Jianze displayed the Chinese Bamboo Research Project done with Finnish industrial designer Ville Kokkonen since 2023. The project explores various bamboos, focusing on those with unique appearances, beauty and excellent structural qualities.

At MATTER and SHAPE, audiences from around the world were amazed by these beautiful Chinese bamboos with different characteristics, which was their first time to see so many bamboo species and natural patterns. We had eager exchanges to explore the possibilities of different bamboo applications.

First Update of the Zhú Furniture Series

We have found some decorative and culturally significant bamboo species with limited applications. These bamboos undergo significant color and texture changes after processing, including Zong Zhu, which has a distinct fibrous core under its skin, offering furniture-making possibilities.

Before peeling & After peeling

Master carpenter Yin Hongqiang, based on the characteristics of Zong Zhu, uses mortise - tenon techniques and others to connect different parts cleverly for ideal structural effects.

This is Jianze's first project update since its release at Copenhagen's 3daysofdesign in June 2024. The exhibited items include lounge chair and side table made from Zong Zhu.

Jianze has also worked with Hu Zhengren, an intangible - heritage bamboo - weaving master, to explore new combinations of traditional Chinese bamboo - weaving skills and modern design by weaving various structures with bamboo strips.

At this fair, Jianze presented the first - edition samples of the bamboo - woven series of lamps. We plan to have bamboo - weaving masters make different woven - pattern lampshades, with diverse hollow bamboos as lamp poles, forming varied combinations.

Zhú Lamp Sample

In the development of this project, material exploration, ecological benefits and handicraft promotion have been our common goals. We will consider the characteristics and natural appearance of bamboo and its meaning in today's context, and continue to release and display more results in the next few years to explore the importance of bamboo in regional culture and practical applications.

Photo by Bea、Penn、Rey Gu、Ville Kokkonen、White Cube、Cellia Spenard、Tom Dagnas