French designer Constance Guisset invited visitors of Paris Design Week to play a sustainable game. Her exhibition "PLAYful Universe" transformed a showroom owned by the flooring manufacturer Tarkett into a vibrant playground that encouraged active participation. Ping-pong tables, basketball hoop, swing or slide entice people to play. The designer adorned the space with bright colors complemented by organic structures, a splatter of paint and spotty surfaces. They point to another distinctive feature of the installation: the emphasis on sustainability; all the materials used are eco-friendly.
Constance Guisset decorated the space in the Marais district of Paris with a combination of salmon pink and neon yellow colors, creating a lively contrast to the usual dark blue tones of the showroom. This resulted in a pleasant and visually attractive space, providing a relaxed atmosphere that attracts visitors to actively explore its individual elements.
At Paris Design Week, the designer transformed Tarkett's showroom into a sustainable playground, combining spontaneous playfulness with the current idea of circular economy and sustainable production. This inclusive installation is based on the concept of a miniature PLAY City, inviting visitors to transition seamlessly between different spheres: from office space and schools to restaurants and shops. It also includes several different sports grounds ready to try.
All these zones are floored with materials from the circular collections by Tarkett. These flooring materials, among which there are vinyl floors, linoleum or carpet tiles, are all recyclable. "We tried to show how versatile Tarkett flooring is and how we can play with an array of floor solutions in very different spaces and in everyday situations," explains the designer Constance Guisset.
The heart of the exhibition is the collection of sports elements, which is where visitors can relax and immerse themselves completely in the playful atmosphere. It includes a swing and a slide, both, of course, not only for children, or a basketball hoop. People can also play ping-pong against windows directly facing the street, thus opening up the space to passers-by.
Tarkett is a significant manufacturer who, alongside commercial flooring, specializes in sports surfaces, too. Their product range encompasses vinyl floors and tiles, mineral tiles, linoleum, wood, and laminate floors. The company is dedicated to more eco-friendly solutions and places a strong emphasis on the recyclability of flooring materials. The Tarkett Start/ReStart concept exemplifies these efforts by focusing on reducing environmental impact through monitoring the company's waste and emissions. In addition to the Paris exhibition, they also collaborate with Constance Guisset on furthering these visions in the so-called PlayBook, a guide for using the company's products for sustainable goals.
Constance Guisset is a French designer with expertise in product, furniture and interior design, as well as scenography for theatrical performances and exhibitions. Her work seeks a balance between ergonomics and artistic representation, and between delicacy and boundless imagination. She also writes and illustrates books for children.
