Brainstorming at École Boulle: WORKSHOP XXL 2024
The Atelier XXL 2024 for the second-year DNMADE students at École Boulle is like their own Olympic Games. They’ve been preparing for it for two years, without knowing the theme they would be working on, nor the materials they would have at their disposal. They had five days to submit their projects. A true challenge.
They had the weekend to reflect, brainstorm, and immerse themselves in the Charlois universe to be ready. On this Tuesday morning (March 12), the atmosphere is buzzing at the prestigious École Boulle. The hands-on work of the WORKSHOP XXL Charlois edition began in the morning. The previous day, Monday, was dedicated to team introductions, choosing the project, and selecting the raw materials to be used. « Most of the students didn’t know each other beforehand. », Most of the students didn’t know each other beforehand.« We form the groups, making sure to place one student from each specialty in each team. It’s an additional challenge for us. In five days, they need to get to know each other, choose a project, divide up the tasks… It’s intense,” said one of the organizers. The staves are highly prized and inspiring for the students, who took over the facilities until the end of the week. In the hallways, there’s sanding, gluing, adjusting, and testing. In the courtyard, some are sawing, while others are planing, cutting, and fitting. The material is in good hands.
Work on the staves
The bending of the staves adds complexity to the task. « We make do with it. Either we use the curvature, or we eliminate it. We chose to work with it ». Each project, from every team, is first brought to life in 3D from hand-drawn sketches. Here, a presentation box, there a tasting table, here a lamp. In the neighboring room, it’s cutlery designed from cooperage tools that inspired the team members. « LAt mealtime, for us, it’s a moment of sharing and conviviality, and we wanted to add discovery—discovering the cooperage craft through the cutlery. The cutlery we’ve designed is silverware reimagined with a cooperage twist. The wooden parts will be made from staves, and the blades from barrel hoops.” On the upper floor, a tasting box is currently being created. « The base is made from staves, while the other parts are made from the bottoms of barrels, which we will saw in half thickness to lighten the structure. ». A case in the shape of a flower, with a sliding mechanism.« This would ideally complement the accommodation offering in the treehouses. ». There is continuity in the ideas
Ingenious and creative
Each of the 18 teams in the running has prepared their project with care and enthusiasm, based on the specifications and the Charlois values, translating them into their creations. The world of the forest, the crafts, and the skills—particularly those of cooperage—are present on every table, in every plan. « The cooperage demonstration really impressed us. », Some of them admit, holding planes in hand, trying to replicate the movements to hollow out a few staves. The barrel hoops, made of galvanized steel, are subjected to twists, deformations, heated, sanded, and polished in search of the desired look. One can feel the growing enthusiasm. The instructors visit the teams, ask them about their intentions, and question them about their projects. We talk about overhang, balance, material, and of course, aesthetics. Nothing is left to chance.
Valorization of the material
Initially in the form of sketches, worn or broken staves, offcuts from hoops, bung holes, and rivets are given a second life, far from their original intended purpose. « The approach is virtuous. We don’t throw away; we recycle towards another use, more domestic. ». An approach in which Charlois has been involved for many years. « In cabinetmaking, we are not used to working with oak. It’s different. It’s pleasant. It’s a noble, precious wood. Especially the oak used to make the staves. ». For another team, working with recycled materials encourages them to be more imaginative and creative.« We must understand the material, tame it to work with it optimally. The wood is not straight, the staves have been heated, and some are marked by the wines they have aged. It’s up to us to work with it ».Another group designed a tasting table inspired by the three colors of wine – white, red, and rosé. « The idea is to highlight both the wood and the wine by playing with colors and reflections. For this project, we are using barrel bottoms, staves, hoops… We try to incorporate everything available to us. ».On the three floors dedicated to the WORKSHOP XXL 2024 Boulle-Charlois, the projects are progressing well. As we leave the premises around 5 PM, the students will continue working for a few more hours. They will have two more days to complete their projects and present them to the jury on Friday, March 15 in the afternoon. 18 teams, 18 projects, with the 5 winners to be showcased on International Forest Day, March 21, at the Académie du Climat. We can’t wait to discover the creations!
Event Forêts en scène organized by the ONF from March 20 to 24, 2024, at the Académie du Climat
Académie du Climat
2 place Baudoyer
75004 Paris
Following this initial presentation of the winning projects, the 18 projects will be showcased in the exhibition spaces of the Charlois Foundation for Art and the Forest in Murlin until May 31, 2024.
Photographs © École Boulle
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