In Paris

I N PA R IS, IN MY GA L L ER Y H O M E

by Ana Cardinale — photos by Adrien Dirand

François Laffanour’s new Parisian flat: at the entrance, ‘Signal lumineux’ by Serge Mouille, an African wood sculpture and, on the wall, ‘Néon défilant’ by Jenny Holzer. In the background, a work by Patrick Raynaud. Desk by Perriand and Jeanneret. Opposite page, the gallerist next to ‘3 bras’, a sculpture by Vassilakis Takis. On the floor, stool-table by Le Corbusier. On the left, a glimpse of a work by Richard Serra. Laffanour, author of ‘Downtown Style’ (edited by Skipa), presents Steph Simon’s solo exhibition from 15/10. galeriedowntown.com

In the large living room bathed in light, the two modernist Visiteur armchairs by Jean Prouvé, left, flirt with the seat by Josef Hoffmann, in the foreground. In the centre, the Torino stool by Prouvé. To the left of the fireplace, the ‘Signaux’ sculptures by Vassilakis Takis.

Fro m Je a n P ro u vé t o C h a rl o t t e Pe r r i a n d ; f ro m T h o m a s S t r u t h t o Je f f Ko o n s. M u s e u m p i e c e s i n t h e L a f f a n o u r h o u s e

The apartment that François Laffanour, founder of the Parisian Galerie Downtown, has arranged for himself and his family is a Haussmann building at the heart of Saint Germain des Près. The interiors are brimming with artworks and collectible design, however, despite the museum pieces, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. “My existence has always been marked by moving and new houses. Each mirrored that phase in my life. Nowadays, I’m lucky to spend most of my time in Normandy, on a large property that will soon turn into an avantgarde place for art. To return from the country and find myself in Paris again, in a house with a garden, like the one I lived in, didn’t make sense anymore. Therefore, I chose a more traditional space”. From room to room, a series of volumes open to one another, with parquet flooring, mouldings and marble fireplaces, in a kind of gallery with a spectacular perspective effect, lit up by high windows and white, uniform walls, as not to disturb the spirit of the place. The homeowner’s curiosity and taste are expressed in a blend of art and design that surround a collection of furniture by the great masters such as Perriand, Jeanneret, Prouvé and Royère, of whom Laffanour is currently a leading specialist, having begun to deal with them almost 50 years ago. Rising at dawn to cut his teeth at the Paul Bert-Sarpette market in Saint-Ouen, while gaining experience until he turned the page and opened the Downtown gallery — at the end of the 1970s – then located in rue de Provence, a few steps from the Drouot auction house; in the 1980s the headquarters moved to rue de Seine, on the left bank, next to the great Parisian antique dealers. “There, I began to display the yet obscure furniture of 20th century architects. I was also the first to hire a scenographer, Jean de Piépape, to set up my stands at fairs”. An age-old and authentic passion that Laffanour has always enjoyed gracefully, as he still denies being a true collector despite living surrounded by masterpieces. Furniture, objects and works of art prove it. Amongst them, the large table designed by Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé is a standout at the centre of the living room; it came from the Maison de l’Etudiant library in Paris. “In my previous home, it was in the cellar; it didn’t fit in any of the rooms, and this was one of the reasons that led me to move”, the gallerist smiles. Just next door, in the living room, a comfortable velvet sofa designed by Jean Royère flirts with Prouvé’s modernist armchairs. Same atmosphere in the bedroom, where a Noguchi lamp and a Pierre Jeanneret armchair make a delicate break from the classic charm of the architecture. This is how it is today; tomorrow is anyone’s guess. “The furniture and objects change continually, and the house must always embody a different look”. —

In the dining room, a glimpse of the table by Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé. On the wall, a work by Thomas Ruff. Next page, in the bedroom, a detail of Perriand’s console table with a lamp by Noguchi. Stools by Prouvé and Le Corbusier. In the kitchen, on the wall, ‘Green railroad bridge Tokyo’ by Thomas Struth. Above the door, sculpture by Masakatsu Iwamoto, aka Mr.

Another view of the dining room in which Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé’s large table dominates the space. Equipped with an integrated lamp, it was designed for a library. Around it eight Direction chairs by Prouvé. At the foot of the fireplace, the ‘Chien’ sculpture is by Jeff Koons. Here, as in the other rooms, the floor is an old oak parquet laid in a herringbone pattern.

On the kitchen door, on the wall, sculpture by Masakatsu Iwamoto, aka Mr. Opposite page, in the living room ‘Double Rift’ by Richard Serra, at the sides two sconces by Charlotte Perriand. Ours Polaire velvet sofa by Jean Royère. On the coffee table by Pierre Jeanneret, next to it, rests a lamp by Richard Texier. Stools by Le Corbusier and Perriand.

At the entrance, ‘Robespierre’, a work by Korean artist Nam June Paik, father of video art. Opposite page, in the bedroom, to the left, behind the Lounge armchair by Pierre Jeanneret, lamp by Isamu Noguchi, as well as the small table next to the bed, on which rests a Richard Texier’s lamp. On the right, stool by Charlotte Perriand.