Uchronia, a French success story

The latest edition of American Elle Decor has just featured them on the cover. In this special issue on emerging talent, a Parisian apartment decorated by Uchronia is revealed over a ten-page spread. Its Haussmann-style decor is shaken up by curtains, mirrors, walls, and even stained-glass windows with bold color shading. The magazine has described the studio founded by Julien Sebban as a “breath of fresh air”.
Julien was a student at the Architectural Association School of London when he first had the idea for Uchronia in 2016. Uchronia is a space where time has no meaning, coupled with concepts based on fictional and pop-up settings. Beyond just decor, the studio offers an experience. Their first success came from winning the call for proposals for the design of the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris (MAM). Within this concrete structure, a botanical Forest setting emerged: “Nature is reborn after COVID in an apocalyptic bunker”, explains Julien Sebban. The studio likes working with craftspeople, “the work of French hands”, he says. In September 2021, he applied his decorative inspiration to the premises of Maison Lapparra, goldsmiths since 1893, and took part in the AD Circuit of interior decorators during Paris Design Week. He received a visit from the Mobilier National (National Furniture Archives), accompanied by the First Lady, Brigitte Macron…And the team at Maison&Objet asked them to design a whole restaurant for the January 2022 fair. The “Café Uchronia”, with its pink, orange, and purple waves and flower-shaped tables, didn’t go unnoticed. “People still talk to me about it”, says Julien Sebban. “The fair offered us major visibility with French and international professionals”.
 

Ever since, Uchronia have participated in the rebirth of Sonia Rykiel boutiques and have had a string of projects. They have agents in Australia and China. And in France as well, where they’re represented by Galerie Claude Cartier. Paris Design Week 2022 saw a joyful collaboration between Uchronia and Manufacture Prelle, silk makers since 1752. The very Pop-influenced collection of furnishings, named Flower, Peanut, or Smile, was enhanced with precious brocade fabrics. Paris Design Week and the Monuments Nationaux (French National Monuments Bureau) offered Uchronia the chance to take over the exquisite Hôtel de Sully on Place des Vosges in September 2023. Everything here will be pink. “Think Pink! will be our theme, in reference to Stanley Donen’s 1957 film ‘Funny Face’. We’ll be presenting our outdoor furniture and collaborations with Manufacture Prelle and Maison Charles, bronze makers.” It’s all a beautiful illustration of this year’s cheerful theme, “Enjoy!”.