Elysée

Overview

Elysée is a modular shelving system designed by Pierre Paulin for Magis in 2009. It is a stacking and adjoining system: modules are joined with T-shaped joints to build an endless series of compositions, against a wall or as a partition element in the middle of a room.

Construction

The basic and stacking modules are made in plywood, in natural maple, American walnut or oak in black or red. The T-shaped joints are white ABS for the maple modules and black ABS for all the other finishes, and the wall hook is galvanized steel. Each module carries a maximum load of 20 kg.

Specifications

60.5 x 35 x 41.5 cm (W x D x H, basic module LB160), four plywood finishes.

From the Élysée Palace to a bentwood bookcase

The origins of Elysée date back to 1971, when Pierre Paulin was commissioned to fit out the lounge, the dining room, the smoking room and the library of the private apartments of President Pompidou at the Élysée Palace, in collaboration with the Mobilier National. For that commission he designed a shelving in smoked methacrylate, which became the starting point for the bentwood bookcase.

A collaboration begun in 2001

In September 2002 Magis founder Eugenio Perazza visited Paulin in the Cévennes and convinced him to resume his work. The collaboration, begun in 2001, led in 2009 to the Flower armchair and the Elysée shelving system, the last works of Paulin's 60-year career. He died in June 2009.