PLENDI had the honor of organizing Les Rencards du Beau
PLENDI had the honor of organizing “Les Rencards du Beau” in collaboration with Hélène Aguilar, founder of the podcast “Où est le beau?”, as well as with the architecture and design firms RDAI and Franklin Azzi.
The first edition of “Les Rencards du Beau” took place in April 2023, in partnership with the architecture firm RDAI in Paris. In March 2024, the second edition was hosted by Franklin Azzi, also in Paris.
These events brought together several influential voices who explored innovative topics and provided answers to essential questions, guiding architecture and interior design toward more sustainable approaches.
Among the speakers, Pierre Gilbert, futurist and co-founder of Sator, presented his latest findings on bio-inspired adaptation to climate risks, highlighting the exemplary role that the luxury industry can play in this transformation. Cécile Chenais, interior designer and anthropologist, shared her expertise on the levers of influence for more responsible hotel design.
Aïna Queiroz, ethnobotanist and biologist, took the audience on a journey through global botanical inspiration. Youssef Tohmé, architect and urban planner, offered a contemporary vision of architecture, marked by a particular focus on current contexts, balancing intimacy and otherness.
Bijan Azmayesh, founder of the Ostraka architecture studio, emphasized the importance of vernacular architecture as a response to climate challenges. He illustrated how to build with simplicity and respect for the land, minimizing the need for air conditioning and heating systems.
Other engaging discussions addressed the principles of organizational biomimicry, inspired by insects, fungi, and plants, to reinvent our infrastructures and ways of living. Julia Turpin, an architect at the cooperative Grand Huit, offered perspectives on living spaces that respect both nature and people. Guillaume Menet, director of Passiphile, shared his experiences in passive construction, helping redefine how we live in harmony with nature.
Les Rencards du Beau also opened crucial discussions on decarbonization ambitions in construction and luxury hospitality, led by Johanna Wagner, a hospitality consultant.
Finally, enriching reflections were made on the “cosmopoliteness” of beauty with Hélène Aguilar, founder of the podcast “Où est le beau ?“, and on the fascinating role of fungi in creating beauty in our world, thanks to insightful contributions from Guillaume Lopez, a self-taught mycologist and founder of Zenno Nature.
You can watch the replays of these sessions by clicking on the following links:
Les Rencards Du beau – RDAI – Session 1 – April 2023
Les Rencards du Beau – RDAI – Session 2 – May 2023
Les Rencards du Beau – RDAI – Session 3 – July 2023
Les Rencards du Beau – RDAI – Session 4 – October 2023
Les Rencards du Beau – Franklin Azzi – Session 1 – January 2024
Les Rencards du Beau – Franklin Azzi – Session 4 – June 2024
© Les Rencards du Beau.