Exploring a radical vision of “floor-as-furniture” on a monumental scale.
A Legacy Reimagined
Pierre Paulin’s iconic 1966 La Déclive seating concept has been scaled up and re-envisioned for Design Miami.Paris by Paulin, Paulin, Paulin, the family-led project dedicated to preserving and evolving his design legacy. The exhibit, titled Articulated Floors, demonstrates a modular, inhabitable structure where the floor itself becomes furniture.
Design Beyond Convention
La Déclive originally consisted of articulated cushioned bars, allowing users to adjust and reconfigure seating at will. This radical approach aims to “eliminate traditional furniture in favor of a shifting, inhabitable floor,” offering a new way to interact with common spaces. The design blurs the line between interior architecture and furniture, inviting flexibility and personal expression.
Experiential Layer
The exhibit pairs the monumental seating installation with a performance of John Cage’s EXTENDED LULLABY (1994), reinforcing Paulin’s ethos of experimentation and open-ended interpretation in art and design.
