Since arriving in Paris in 2023, Design Miami Paris has made the rooms, courtyard and gardens of L'Hôtel de Maisons far more than a backdrop. "The intimacy of the space allows us to present design in a way no conventional fair setting can," says Jen Roberts, CEO of Design Miami. The setting and the works played off one another, as illustrated by Jean Prouvé's 1944 Demountable House, presented by Galerie Patrick Seguin, and John Pawson's travertine bench and low stools, installed in the courtyard by AF Editions.
This fourth edition also confirmed the fair's commitment to broadening the narratives of collectible design. Alongside Scandinavian works, Yves Macaux Gallery brought together a collection of Viennese furniture by Josef Hoffmann, Koloman Moser and Adolf Loos, including a mother-of-pearl-adorned dining chair by Moser, the last remaining example in private hands.
This curatorial approach reflects a broader shift in how such works are viewed: "People are looking more closely at the context behind a designer's work and what makes it feel relevant now," explains Jen Roberts. This curiosity is underpinned by Design Miami's exacting standards: before being exhibited, each piece is examined by an independent committee that assesses its quality, authenticity and historical significance.