Jianze participated in this international design event for the second consecutive year, presenting the “Chinese Bamboo Research Project,” jointly initiated with Finnish designer Ville Kokkonen, in the pavilion at the Tuileries Garden. This year, Jianze deepened its collaboration with intangible cultural heritage bamboo weaving master Hu Zhengren and bamboo craft master Wang Ronglong. The newly created Zhú series of table and floor lamps made their debut on site. Additionally, the rattan bamboo system first exhibited last year was expanded into a more complete series, with the addition of a Stool, High Stool, and Basket, showcasing the infinite possibilities of Chinese bamboo in contemporary design.
Jianze × Ville Kokkonen, Chinese Bamboo Research Project — Purple Bamboo Table Lamp
At MATTER and SHAPE Object Series
Chinese Bamboo Research Project: Three Years of Exploration, a Dialogue Between Tradition and Modernity
Since 2023, Jianze has been collaborating with Finnish designer Ville Kokkonen on a research project focused on Chinese bamboo. The project aims to identify bamboo varieties suited for handicraft production, with particular attention to those that possess unique aesthetics, strong structural performance, and high ornamental value. Over the past three years, the team has worked with several experienced Chinese experts to explore the potential applications of bamboo in contemporary design.
Ville Kokkonen is one of Finland’s influential contemporary industrial designers. He has served as design director for the Finnish home brand Artek and as a professor of furniture design at Aalto University. His collaborators span the fields of technology, home furnishings, and fashion, including well-known brands such as Nokia, Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, Knoll, Artek, and Iittala.
In discussions with bamboo craft master Wang Ronglong, the team discovered solid bamboo, known as Zong Zhu, which differs from hollow bamboo. Beneath its surface lies a distinct fiber core, offering entirely new possibilities for furniture making. Master woodworker Yin Hongqiang, drawing on the characteristics of Zong Zhu, used traditional techniques such as mortise and tenon joinery to connect different parts and achieve the desired structural effects. In 2024, Jianze collaborated with bamboo weaving master Hu Zhengren to explore a new fusion of traditional Chinese bamboo weaving techniques with modern design.
These traditional crafts, rooted in millennia of wisdom, are being reinterpreted through contemporary craft language. The ongoing research results are gradually being released, offering new perspectives on the cultural value of bamboo and its future possibilities in design.
Comparison of the Zong Zhu before and after peeling and processing, fibers exposed on the cross-section
Jianze in MATTER and SHAPE
Zhú Series Lighting: The Penetration of Light, the Expression of Bamboo
At MATTER and SHAPE 2026, Jianze debuted the Zhú series of table and floor lamps, created in collaboration with bamboo weaving master Hu Zhengren. The lampshades feature a fully cylindrical woven bamboo structure, personally guided and woven by Master Hu. The weaving texture is simple yet rhythmic, presenting a warm, layered effect when light passes through. The most distinctive feature is how the design embraces natural individuality: the lamp poles retain the natural appearance of bamboo. Each bamboo stalk has its own unique texture, grain, and character, making every lamp a one-of-a-kind piece.
The designs are led by Ville Kokkonen, with an overall restrained simplicity. The sleek cylindrical form creates a precise dialogue with the bamboo weaving texture, reactivating the vitality of traditional craftsmanship in a contemporary context.
Hu Zhengren, a representative inheritor of China's intangible cultural heritage in bamboo weaving, has been engaged in bamboo weaving craft for more than 50 years since he started learning it at the age of 13. He dares to innovate in the craft of bamboo weaving, and with the help of self-made machines, he has developed techniques such as fine bamboo filament inlay and rotary-cut bamboo slices.
The Zhú series of lighting fixtures showcases the vitality of traditional craftsmanship
In 2026, the Jianze Chinese Bamboo Research Project showcased a new series within the Zong Zhu System at MATTER and SHAPE. The Stool, High Stool, and Basket continue the in-depth exploration of palm bamboo materials. The seat of the Stool is made from nan bamboo strips hand-woven with paper rope, allowing for easy disassembly and installation. The bamboo basket is hand-woven under the guidance of Master Hu Zhengren and can be either embedded in the Zong Zhu frame or used independently. Each Zong Zhu frame is handcrafted by masters from the Yin Workshop, who have inherited their skills over decades. The natural texture of the bamboo and the details of the hand-weaving together create a tranquil yet powerful object language.
Chinese woodworking master Yin Hongqiang produces the rattan and bamboo series. He inherits traditional Chinese Su-style woodworking techniques and has collaborated with Finnish design master Yrjö Kukkapuro for decades, demonstrating exceptional woodworking skill. Drawing on decades of experience, Master Yin has developed a set of production methods tailored to the shapes and material characteristics of rattan and bamboo.
These new works continue the design language of the Zhú Lounge Chair and Side Table, which debuted last year, while expanding the functional dimensions of the Zong Zhu system. From seating to storage, from single pieces to a series, the Zong Zhu system is gradually building a comprehensive range of household objects.
MATTER and SHAPE 2026: An Immersive Design Experience
This edition of MATTER and SHAPE is designed by JA Projects, responsible for the architectural concept, creating two pavilions in the Tuileries Garden as a socially participatory architectural project rooted in the site's culture and geographical history. The salon features a reading room, a shop, lecture programs, and multiple dining spaces, creating an immersive design experience.
The exhibition area by Means of Space showcases diverse contemporary design practices alongside more than 70 exhibitors from around the world. From collectible design items to raw materials, textiles, tableware, lighting, ceramics, and furniture editions, MATTER and SHAPE brings together works from both established professionals and emerging talents, reflecting the multifaceted nature of contemporary design.
Photo：Celia Spenard-Ko / Hao Luo / Mickaël Llorca
