CR Coffee Table

Marie and Alexandre have transformed Appartement 50, a minimalist exhibition housed in Marseille, France in a duplex in the Unité d’habitation known as Cité Radieuse, constructed by Le Corbusier in Marseille between 1947 and 1952. The duplex—restored by Jean-Marc Drut—serves as both a living space and a showcase for international designers such as Jasper Morrison, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Konstantin Grcic, and others. The duo’s creative process involves extensive collaboration with artisans, including glassmakers, ceramists, and carpenters, as they move between the workshop and drawing board. Their work spans object design and textile production, blending industrial techniques with handcrafted methods.

Marie and Alexandre’s creations emphasize minimalist forms that engage with nature, often using materials such as clay, glass, and wood to evoke organic processes and transformations. One of their notable collaborations is with botanist Marc Jeanson, resulting in the Végétasia vases and lounge chair, which explore the relationship between nature and design. Similarly, their Berries lighting series, crafted from blown glass speckled with red dots, reflects the natural world in both form and function. Their designs often reference the architecture of Cité Radieuse itself, where their objects, including ceramics and lamps, resonate with the raw concrete of Le Corbusier’s building. The combination of clay, glass, and lava in their works, such as the Horizon lamps and Iris mirrors, highlights the balance between material lightness and durability.

Marie and Alexandre’s approach to design challenges traditional domestic norms by creating objects that are both functional and expressive. Their use of colored glass, seen in their modular glass boxes, references Le Corbusier’s own ideas on color and form, contributing to a broader dialogue about standardization and customization in modern design. Their work is deeply connected to the built environment of Le Corbusier’s Cité Radieuse, yet it also draws inspiration from Mediterranean modernism, as exemplified by Eileen Gray’s sensual approach to architecture. In Apartment 50, their objects create a cohesive environment where furniture, architecture, and space are interdependent, merging function with poetic expression.

One of the standout pieces in Marie and Alexandre’s collection is the CR Coffee Table for signé. Available in two versions, the rectangular model and a round-top table model. The table is characterized by its elegant glass top, supported by blown glass feet that come in a selection of three colors: blue, yellow, or amber. Each table is part of a signed and numbered edition, emphasizing its limited and artisanal nature. Handcrafted in France, the CR Coffee Table exemplifies the duo’s commitment to merging craftsmanship with modern design principles, making it a striking addition to any space.

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