#agfronzoni

A. G. Fronzoni. La Biennale di Venezia. 1969.

The simplicity of two intersecting lines forming a grid never fails to capture my eye. On recent trip to Paris, the iconic double escalator of the Le Bon Marche was as impressive as expected (not to be confused with the not so chi-chi Bonmarche of our local highstreets, the kind that my Gran used to frequent in Chorley..) 

Weaving its way upwards towards the atrium in a lattice like formation, it glides shoppers onto the fashion floors above; a piece of interior architecture, which upholds the status of this swish Parisian destination.

Having researched a bit about the history of the shop for my MA dissertation many moons ago, I was keen to experience this space. Heralded as the first ever department store, the finery of this Beaux Arts building creates an as-enticing environment today (whoops, discovered that APC was cheaper) as it did for those Victorian leisure-pursuing classes at its’ inception. The 1989 escalator installation by architect Andree Putnam references the steel structures synonymous with the local area, in-keeping with the original design by Gustave Eiffel.

This little tourist trip led me onto a Pinterest peruse, checking out more grids in interiors. There are lots around. I wouldn’t define it as a fleeting trend as it’s never gone nor will it go away. My admiration of a minimalist aesthetic doesn’t transcend into my actual home life but one can dream for a Fronzoni pendant or Crittall-esque sliding doors.

The bronze cast of pavement cracks by Cornelia Parker, pictured below from when I visited her exhibition at The Whitworth Art Gallery and the simplistic mark making of monotypes seen in Mira Schendel’s work at Hauser & Wirth appeal to my appreciation of linear qualities across the spectrum of art & design.

And the tiled interior of Jean Pierre Reynaud’s (1969) La Maison de la Celle- Saint-Cloud is just as relevant today. The uniformity of the grid pattern and geometric form can be seen in the set design of the newly launched Anglepoise collaboration with Eley Kishimoto. And two of my favourite brands are championing the grid too - Darkroom and Hay.

So all that’s left to do is check out the relatively new Southerden Patisserie and admire the Eley Kishimoto wallpaper whilst eating a Mille-feuille, reminding me of my Parisian weekend away surrounded by grids and cake!