Paul Barbusse, Design Office Draughtsman at La Cabane Perchée

One Day, One Drawing

He seems discreet, almost secretive. Shy, perhaps. But not quite. Paul Barbusse is the draughtsman at La Cabane Perchée, the one who sketches the projects. Originally from Avignon, the South runs through his veins. At just 35, he already has a rich professional life behind him and the desire to keep learning again and again.

Paul’s professional life is a bit like a stage race, with time trials, mountain passes, sprints and long distances. Whether he is the leader or a teammate, he always gives the best of himself for the benefit of the collective. Each stage helps him improve the next. His thing, without question, is drawing. A passion inherited from his grandfather Albert, who passed away when Paul was only ten years old. Yet it must be said that his legacy lives on in Paul’s pencil strokes.

The Path of the Arts

After obtaining a science-focused high school diploma, a bit like everyone else, Paul decided to pursue Applied Arts. After a preparatory year during which he tried a bit of everything, he chose the Spatial Design option. A choice of reason more than of the heart: “I hesitated with animation cinema, which I discovered, like drawing, with my grandfather. I eventually chose design, a more concrete path.” A BTS followed, as well as a university diploma in Computer Graphics and Construction: “I wanted to try becoming an architect, but the path required significant professional experience.” If the scenic routes are not the shortest, they are often the most formative. Without ever straying too far from design, spatial planning and drawing, Paul strengthens his knowledge through contact with others. Persistent and meticulous, he could never be satisfied with approximation.

Drawing Is Winning!

Paul began his professional career in Valence, in the Drôme region, with a company building traditional houses. He put his pencil — his pencils — to work for the design office. “It was a very enriching three-year experience,” Paul recalls, “with around 400 projects imagined along the way. The pace was intense and required rigour and a great deal of organisation. It was very formative.” This was followed by a year working freelance for an architecture firm, still in the Drôme. During that year, Paul worked on various projects ranging from warehouses to housing developments, including a school and commercial premises. “I discovered — or deepened — my knowledge of regulations and legal aspects, construction standards… I learned a lot as well.”

Sounds Like the South

Originally from the Avignon area, where his parents and sister live, Paul wanted to return home and left the Drôme and Valence. In search of a new job, he found himself working in the construction of timber-frame houses, where he developed his talents and took on more responsibility. “We had several agencies in France, and I was in charge of the Design Office. I coordinated a team of eight draughtsmen. Once again, I learned a lot, particularly about human relations. Each project was unique, every house different. Custom-made and high-end projects, with great teams. That’s also where I learned about wood — its properties and its characteristics.” Everything seemed to be on the right track. “The Covid crisis changed the situation. The company didn’t survive. It’s a shame, there was real potential. But that’s life.” Realistic but not resigned, Paul heard about La Cabane Perchée. Apt is not far from Avignon, his home region. Through a job listing on the French employment service website, he applied. “It was a newly created position, with the risks that come with it.” First a temporary contract, and a few months later, he was hired.

Exquisite Sketch

A treehouse is a childhood dream brought to life. It is through Paul’s pencil strokes that the first outlines, the first sketches appear and the projects take shape. At the beginning there is a blank sheet of paper, a well-sharpened pencil, and the hand. “It’s often Igor (carpenter and site manager) who has the first meeting with the client at their home. He scans the tree in its entirety and it is from these 3D images that I sketch the project by hand, according to the client’s wishes. I try to create the link between the ‘dream’ and reality, what can be done and what cannot. There is a creative side, which I really enjoy. It’s teamwork, we complement each other in what we do. My sketches then become precise plans, in which every detail appears, from the door handle to the wooden shingles.”

Three questions for Paul.

For the past three years, you have been the draughtsman at La Cabane Perchée. Is it different from your previous experiences?

Yes and no. Yes, because we work in a very specific field: treehouses. The function is not the same as that of a traditional house; there is this dimension of the tree and the idea of being “perched”. We create around the tree, with the tree, within a natural environment. There are different constraints to take into account. And then there is a great team; it’s truly collaborative work. On a project, we are all involved. We are all concerned.

Does it relate more closely to your Applied Arts training?

In a way, yes. I have a background in Applied Arts and interior spatial design. Combined with my different professional experiences, I must admit I feel very much in my element. Every project is different, which is motivating. There is a certain freedom in what I do, which I really appreciate.

And in everyday life? After work?

Oulah… so many things. Drawing and painting of course. I also do a few caricatures, especially of my colleagues. I am passionate about dance, Argentine tango in particular, and lately I have been trying rock. It’s important for me, for my balance, to have passions and to meet people from different backgrounds. I’m quite curious. I have also been experimenting with sculpture for some time. I enjoy it. In the end, it’s all about balance.

Photograph: Christophe Deschanel