French pavilion designs the future for diplomacy and collaboration

The eyes of the design world will turn to southern China from Dec 5 to 8 for the 2025 Guangzhou Design Week in Guangdong province. The French Pavilion, themed "The Art of Hospitality" and "Exceptional Design", will be one of the highlights of the event.

Jointly presented by the French embassy in China and Mobilier National, the pavilion continues France's "Embassy of the Future "project, first unveiled in Paris and debuting to an international audience at the design week.

The exhibition will highlight the works of two French designers, Mathilde Bretillot and Marion Mailaender, with each exploring how design represents diplomacy, culture and human connection.

The "Embassy of the Future" initiative was conceived by Mobilier National, drawing inspiration from a world fair held in Paris in 1925, when French Art Deco began influencing global design. Herve Lemoine, president of Mobilier National, says the project is a space to exhibit the vitality of contemporary French decorative arts to the world.

Guangzhou is the first international stop for this vision. Lemoine says China is a natural choice for the project's global debut, noting the country's long-standing craft traditions and openness to decorative arts, as well as the dynamic exchanges between French and Chinese designers.

At the Guangzhou exhibition, visitors will encounter two immersive spaces — Bretillot's reimagined Reception Hall and Mailaender's transformative Dining Room.

Bretillot envisions the reception hall as a place of warm encounters, using vibrant colors and bold decorative elements to create an inviting atmosphere. The background audio in the hall will include excerpts from Albert Camus' Nobel speech in Sweden, which reflect themes of belonging and humanity.

"Cultural exchange creates meaningful bonds between nations," Bretillot says. "China's long history continues to inspire European designers in profound ways."

Meanwhile, Mailaender presents a flexible dining room area where furniture and settings can transform according to each event, highlighting the diversity and creativity of French art. She also designed a pantry, emphasizing that beauty and design can exist even in the most functional yet overlooked spaces.

To Florent Aydalot, minister-counselor for cultural, educational, and scientific affairs at the French embassy, the project represents the spirit of China-France collaboration in craftsmanship and design.

"We both value refined craftsmanship, the transmission of knowledge, and the pursuit of excellence," he says.

"Decorative arts connect heritage with modernity and tradition with innovation. Craftsmanship is a universal language — it allows us to communicate through materials, form and the warmth of the hand."

In recent years, the French embassy has supported numerous initiatives promoting dialogue between the two countries, including a residency program with Mobilier National and Jingdezhen Ceramic University.

As one of Asia's leading design events, the Guangzhou Design Week attracted over 450,000 attendees last year.

"We look forward to using the French Pavilion as a platform to promote in-depth dialogue between French and Chinese craftsmanship and creativity through mutual appreciation," says Aydalot.

Bai Shuhao contributed to this story.