The New Luxury, as seen by…Charlotte Biltgen and Jean-Pierre Tortil

Like Maison&Objet, In The City will explore the theme of New Luxuries, with around a hundred venues that set the tone for Parisian excellence. Interior designer Charlotte Biltgen and Jean-Pierre Tortil, creative director of his namesake Atelier, work with it on a daily basis. With a team of designers and artisans, Jean-Pierre Tortil designs and makes furniture, rugs and bespoke lighting for a truly exceptional clientele. “For some time now, clients have been turning toward customized, hand-made and exclusive products. They appreciate objects that have been made just for them, even if it’s not even with them. I’d say that a project is successful when the client claims ownership of it.” This attitude has shifted over time. “Starting in the 1980s, when the real reign of Design began, we were looking for recognizable, iconic pieces that would create a signature look and be a status symbol. The Italians dominated the international market, with both organized industrial production and impeccable workmanship. Today, France, which has always preserved craftsmanship in its small workshops, is better prepared to meet requests for personalization. The French are part of a noble tradition in the decorative arts, as the heirs to the famous designer/decorators of the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s. By designing their own furniture, interior designers became the essential linchpins between clients and artisans. It’s phenomenal.” 

As an interior designer, Charlotte Biltgen is meticulous with the line of furniture she makes, in addition to her project work for individuals and the restaurants she designs. She has opened a showroom on boulevard de Courcelles, offering an inspiring space for clients and specifiers. Besides the look of a project, it’s her overall story that draws buyers’ attention: “The manufacturing conditions, the expert craftsmanship and an encounter with the designer add an extra dimension to the project”. With favorable working conditions for employees, its ancestral art of living and an environmentally friendly approach, France seems to be an expensive country – this is indeed a luxury – but one that conveys positive, inspiring values. “I’ve noticed that we’re not so much about appearances. The image does exist, but that’s only the first layer. Luxury is also to be found in touching and experiencing. In addition, my clients are looking for permanence and durability. This is why I do my best to highlight the exceptional materials that balance out the form of our pieces. If the form dominates, as with clothing, it will fall out of fashion quite quickly. Materials are always unique and never get old.” Charlotte Biltgen has just designed three rugs for Atelier Tortil that illustrate the multiple variations that can emerge from one design. Inspired by the elements of Earth and Fire and crisscrossed with cracks that evoke the Japanese art of Raku, cardboard has been shaped by the artisans at Tortil into three different versions, in wool only, or with sisal and cotton, textured or not, offering so many possibilities for decorators to work with, and each one provokes new emotions. Is this not the true purpose of luxury?

Photos : Atelier Tortil © Nathalie Baetens