November 28, 2024 |
Making a monumental debut with a goth-coded, melted wax candle by the indelible Michèle Lamy, House By is the bold new concept project championing artistic conversations with exceptional talents. Founded by French businessman Gérard Mialet and renowned furniture maker Philippe Pérès, the Paris-based initiative is “made by a select few for a select few,” according to the founders, who launched House By earlier this month. “At House By, we are masters of the art of anticipation,” they say, referring to the carefully curated dialogue they cultivate between art, artist and object. “We empower the creative titans of our times to do what they do best: think outside the box and dictate their perceived categories. We deviate from commercial norms to let creativity run its course, and it never ceases to surprise.” In simple terms, it’s a high brow art project that commissions those at the precipice of the creative world to create limited-edition art objects, just as Lamy has. Lamy’s subversive candle is organically sculpted, like a molten monolith seemingly modelled after the softly wrinkled skin of her hairless Sphynx cat Pixie. “We achieved it in dialogue with Michele, in adequation with our culture and know-how,” they say. “It was our conversations that gave the object’s DNA. Beyond a candle, it is above all a wax sculpture.”
Crafting the piece was a meticulous process. “Manufacturing [the product] required different skills. Already around the wax sculpture in order to mold and produce the object, but also for its use: the quality of the wax, the wick and its consumption time. Finally, we had to think about the base: a brass base, shaped and engraved with a bronze finish; and wooden packaging with a magnetic closure. The piece required a lot of thought in terms of finishing, it was an opportunity for us to develop a unique project.”
Deciding which artists to work with is a highly considered pursuit. “We look for the real DNA in artists; an easily identifiable writing style. The idea of the community that we are building joins the idea of an artist community of creators who are all close, or linked by a culture, a sensitivity and an approach representing a certain form of closeness.”
Releasing in limited-edition drops, the business model offers a certain rarity that promises both value and desire. “It also allows a certain freedom of shaping and creation,” Mialet and Pérès say. “We are also thinking about not overproducing objects. It is therefore a piece that seems [to fit] with our times.”
The “beating heart of a privileged set of designers and owners,” the project is driven by a shared passion for craftsmanship and creative excellence. It’s a space where ideas are given room to breathe and visions are turned into tangible works of art.
As co-founders, Mialet and Pérès are driven by a synchronised approach, shared curiosity and unwavering passion for the creative process. But what does that look like? “Our forward-thinking implication in the future of luxury and the highly digital nature of our platform does not come at the cost of our own humanity. We value and cultivate intimacy, forging a rare and priceless emotional connection between designer and object, object and owner, designer and community.”
So what’s next? “At House By, the quality of our objects goes without saying. How our objects are made is part and parcel of their value and desirability,” the co-founders tell 10. “The inception of each object is facilitated by a highly adaptable and precise production approach, tailored specifically to practical considerations of each piece, the intentions of its designer, and our commitments to sustainability.” House By isn’t just an art project – it’s a mindset. One where luxury meets thoughtfulness and creativity gets the space it deserves. It’s the future of curated opulence, where every object is as much a work of art as a philosophy.
Photography courtesy of House By.
