The mix of craftsmanship, contemporary art, wallpaper with floral motifs, neoclassical aesthetics and ethnic influences has brought the Parisian architect Laura Gonzalez: all over the world, with ambitious and cool projects.

Biot, Vallauris, Fondation Maeght. Laura Gonzalez , born in <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/travel/where-to-stay-in-paris-hotel-monsieur-aristide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paris</a>, spent her childhood in the south of France. &laquo; An only child, my parents took me everywhere. They loved art and auction rooms, and that's where I became passionate about looking for particular objects&raquo;. He designs and creates ceramics, without immediately thinking about <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/design/quintessential-interior-design-pieces-for-the-inner-architecture-enthusiast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">architecture</a>. &laquo;My parents loved fabrics very much, my room was covered in large flowers by Pierre Frey which I hated because I couldn't stick posters. My father's office, on the other hand, was covered in a paisley pattern, every room in the house was very charged, maximalist, clearly inspired by Algeria, where he was born&raquo;. Gradually the idea of architecture took hold. He opens his Pravda Arkitect agency a few months before graduating from the Ecole Nationale Sup&eacute;rieure d'Architecture Paris-Malaquais, &laquo;a school unlike any other with ateliers like those of choreographer Carolyn Carlson, in front of whom I had to dance in the Cour du M&ucirc;rier to harmonize body expression and architecture. I also studied for six months at <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/art/sothebys-auction-jan-maria-manetti-shrem-art-collection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fine Arts</a>, where I followed courses in nude drawing. Then I went to China for three months and two to Venice for my thesis. The topic? Imagine a museum at Punta della Dogana, well before Fran&ccedil;ois Pinault installed his collection there, entrusting the creation of the space to Tadao Ando&raquo;.
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His first important work is the legendary nightclub Le Bus Palladium, &laquo;a complete creative experience, far more interesting and creative than designing a Parisian apartment. I had a very tight budget and I managed to find things around and mix them together&raquo;. With her father who owns hotels and restaurants, she has always been involved in the world of hospitality, for which she has carried out many projects, such as the newly opened Dar Mima restaurant, or La Coupole, via Lap&eacute;rouse or the h&ocirc;tel Saint James. &laquo;I have always loved remaking these mythical places, reawakening these sleeping beauties, although of course I have also created many projects from scratch. Sometimes I try to convert to neutral colours, but then I always go back to carpets, fabrics, colored sofas. For me they are an expression of the joy of living, and I think that in this increasingly stressful society we need colours that make us dream. And my savoir faire, knowing how to mix very different things and knowing how to obtain a harmony. You always have to find the balance, otherwise you risk looking too old, too <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/art/lucile-gauvain-my-work-is-inspired-by-artificial-kitsch-and-cliches" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kitsch</a>, not modern enough&raquo;.
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Her mentors are Renzo Mongiardino, Madeleine Castaing, Dorothy Draper, Jacques Grange, Veere Grenney and the Peregalli studio, for their way of working with the classics. &laquo;I love the classic, even if I got rid of it with my more colourful style&raquo; . She used to travel a lot, now that she has three children she does it less, rather she travels through books. &laquo;Each project expands my library by at least 40 volumes, from novels to biography via art books. Right now I'm dreaming of going to <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/fashion/kenzo-menswear-show-autumn-winter-2023-photos-videos-images-look" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Japan</a>, I'm building a hotel in Paris on rue du 4 Septembre, which will be of a maximalist Japanese taste. He is currently working on about forty projects, the boldest of which is the creation of Printemps in New York. It is located in an Art Deco building on Wall Street. It won't be a department store rather a giant concept store. I'm also working on the Mandarin Oriental in Mallorca in an absolutely crazy 70s building, and on a <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/fashion/enchanting-cartier" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cartier</a> boutique in Miami, whose facade was designed by Diller Scofidio, creator of the High Line in NY. We make a few apartments, my agency is made up of 45 people, we don't have the time to do it, if anything we dedicate ourselves to holiday homes, it's more fun. I'm also working on a book with Rizzoli, on ten years of style which will be released in the autumn&raquo;. In matters of art, she particularly appreciates Claire Tabouret, she loves furniture, but does not consider herself a designer.

Out of 45 people who work for me, 38 are women. We bring another balance, a different sensibility and customers seek us out for this very reason. A generation of female architects is coming and I am proud to be a part of it. -Laura Gonzalez

«Designing furniture is for me a little recreation, I work with craftsmen, we do everything in France, we don&#39;t produce pieces in stock and we exhibit everything in our rue de Lille gallery, staging them and imagining scenography once a year» . How has the job changed over the years? «I have maintained a balanced line thanks also to budgets, the types of construction sites that have evolved over time and experience. There are fewer creative barriers, but above all more freedom, a new field of artistic exploration, with new materials, including recycled ones. In my opinion, the materials that are used determine the style». Architecture has been a man&#39;s business for years, does being part of a change make you a committed designer? «I am committed, out of 45 people who work for me, 38 are women. We bring another balance, a different sensibility and customers seek us out for this very reason. A generation of female architects is coming, and I&#39;m proud to be a part of it».

The interview with the architect Laura Gonzalez

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