The workshop was commissioned by the Friedmann & Versace studio to design and create a stained-glass double door for the private salon of the Cartier boutique in Brussels.
Rooted in the sumptuous Art Nouveau heritage of the Belgian capital, this creation offers a contemporary and sensitive reinterpretation of the movement. Rather than reproducing its established codes, we sought to recapture the vital spirit of Art Nouveau — a world where nature is in constant motion and every line seems to breathe. The curves become freer and more organic, while a diagonal symmetry, contrasting with the horizontal symmetry characteristic of the style, introduces a renewed rhythm and composition.
The combination of the Tiffany technique with traditional leaded stained glass made it possible to achieve exceptionally refined leading, allowing the vegetal motifs to unfold with lightness and grace. A harmonious dialogue emerges between the living vine and the gilded lead lattice that supports it.
The interplay of materials was also carefully explored. A textured glass, chosen for the background to preserve the intimacy of the space, responds to hand-blown glass whose depth invites the viewer into this precious secret garden.
Entitled L’Orée (The Threshold), the work evokes a luminous boundary, a moment of transition, and an invitation to step through the door. The Cartier Brussels boutique was recognized as one of the most beautiful boutiques in the world by the selection committee of the Prix Versailles, the global architecture and design award held under the patronage of UNESCO.
54 Boulevard de Waterloo, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Photo credits: © Clément Vayssieres / © Lo Martin Wilder
