Forum Grand Palais | 2025

As Director of AB.Lab (ArtBuild Architectes), Kevin Guidoux was entrusted with designing the entire scenography for the upcoming “Universal Exhibition of Wood and Bio-Based Materials” during the 2025 International Wood Construction Forum. This event, held within the 13,000 m² of the Grand Palais in Paris, will also feature a reimagined version of the Ephemeral Auditorium. From raw materials to structures and interior design, this Forum covers the entire lifecycle of wood and bio-based materials.

Scenography
This professional Forum aimed not only to showcase the excellence of various wood-related industries but also to serve as a demonstrator event by offering a unique experience through its program and scenography. We developed a master plan that integrated thematic exhibitor zones and a variety of diverse projects, ranging in scale and purpose.

Ephemeral Auditorium (OSA)
Located at the northern end of the Grand Palais’ Nef, the Ephemeral Auditorium was reused for this edition of the Forum. Having been stored outdoors for over a year, its curved CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) panels required restoration to address damage caused by rust and wood delamination.The challenge wasn’t purely technical but carried a pedagogical dimension, highlighting the aging process of wood and its potential for structural reuse. The project also demonstrated the material’s modularity by transforming the auditorium from a rectangular to an oval configuration.

Gallery of Architecture
The “21st Century Wood and Bio-Based Architecture Gallery” stretches 360 linear meters (113 spaces), providing a platform for over 80 architectural firms to showcase their most ambitious timber structure projects.This curated exhibition emphasizes lightness and sustainability, featuring minimalistic and ecological supports and partitions. The exhibition underscores the versatility of wood and bio-based materials, showcasing their constructive, furniture, demonstrative, educational, and poetic attributes. Notable elements include hemp displays, 4.5-meter-long paper partitions, and the “Confettis”furniture.

Confettis Furniture
The “Confettis” furniture concept was born out of the opportunity to unify the scenography by serving multiple purposes: chair, pedestal, tribune, shelf, etc. Used as a base to display architectural models in the Gallery, it was designed to create value and inspire reuse. At the end of the Forum, each architecture firm will take its Confettis modules and envision their next life elsewhere.

Developed in collaboration with the École Supérieure du Bois in Nantes, this furniture is simple to fabricate and assemble thanks to its rational design, consisting of identical panels interlocked in pairs. This optimization allowed apprentices to produce over 550 units within a single week of work. “It took just 4 minutes to create a piece of furniture with multiple lives.”

Disk connectors ensure lateral and vertical fixation between panels, while the trapezoidal shape offers countless configurations beyond its primary functions. With only four modules, over 50 shapes can be achieved. By exploring the possibilities, the Confettis furniture generates enough value to transcend disciplines and defy planned obsolescence. This was achieved not only through modular design but also by prioritizing durability and robustness, using 12 mm thick Compact Density Fiber panels manufactured by SwissKrono.

Category:Display/InstallationsLocation:FranceArchitect: ArtBuild / Guidoux Zhang (Supervision)Design Team: Kevin Guidoux, Apolline BrunPhotographer: Krsitopher Guidoux