Magazine LALIQUE 2025

ART & DESIGN

Alongside architect Rudy Ricciotti, international concrete star and master behind prestigious museums the world over, the crystal-making artisans of Lalique created Edificio , a hand-crafted vase celebrating a shared passion for the arts and the excellence of craftsmanship.

EDIFICIO The arts captured in crystal

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BY MALIKA BAUWENS

dificio is the latest revelation in the Lalique Art collection, which has seen Lalique working in tandem with some of the greatest contemporary artists for more than a decade. The vase, which is the result of meticulous work by the finest crystal artisans, has a matte finish intertwined with textured and transparent strands, taking us on a dreamlike voyage rooted in the modern day. “The arts reflect the image of our country, honouring the memory and sharing of its expertise,” stated Rudy Ricciotti, known for his deep appreciation of craftsmanship.

©Karine Faby

PARTICULAR ATTENTION WAS PAID TO THE CORNERS, EACH OF THEM CUT TO ACHIEVE A UNIQUE BALANCE IN A MANNER AKIN TO MAGIC.

Created hand-in-hand with the Lalique artisans of Wingen-sur-Moder in Alsace, the piece he brought to life crystallises the meeting point of two types of savoir-faire : Edificio reflects the dream of an artist with the demand of an architect. The visual of the vase belies an extraordinarily complex construction created by Lalique’s master glassmakers, whose role was almost one of stonemason. Particular attention was paid to the corners, each of them cut to achieve a unique balance in a manner akin to magic – two measure exactly 90°, the third 87°, and the last

93°. As the ultimate technical challenge set by the architect, Edificio was designed to be the missing piece of a precious puzzle, slipping snugly into the trapezoid space left free at the entrance of Ricciotti’s emblematic Paris building. The very structure of the vase is ready to run away with imagination, metamorphosing as it fills with water; it begins to float, seemingly breaking free of its textured casing. For Rudy Ricciotti, concrete and crystal are alter egos: “The physical nature of the materials forces us to remain humble,” stated the 2006 winner of the Grand National Prize of Architecture. Edificio is a testament to his profound respect for the work shared between Lalique’s ateliers and the

architect, who found that “the atmosphere within Lalique was very receptive”. “I was proud to witness the expertise and dedication of this remarkable French establishment,” he said about his collaboration with the crystal artisans. “More than just artistic tradition, Lalique is a culmination of historic technical expertise.” After working on more than a hundred buildings around the world – stretching from Seoul to São Paulo, with French highlights including the famous Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations (Mucem) in Marseille in 2013, the 19M Fashion ateliers of Chanel in 2021, and the Musée du Grand Siècle in Saint-Cloud, which is planned for completion in 2026 – Rudy Ricciotti can now boast a first architectural exploit crafted from crystal, in the form of Edificio .

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