Jean Nouvel

“The elementarity I seek has nothing to do with minimalism. Even when it goes in for a bare minimum of material, design is no less creative.” — Jean Nouvel

Jean Nouvel, born in 1945 in Fumel, France, is one of the most visionary architects and designers of our time. His approach to design stems from a desire to create elements that resonate with the architectural space itself. A prime example is the Less table, designed for the Cartier Foundation and produced by Molteni&C, where form follows a structural, almost elemental logic.

After graduating from the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1972, Nouvel founded his own practice and quickly rose to international acclaim. He was awarded the Grand Prix National d’Architecture, the RIBA Gold Medal, the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale, and the Pritzker Prize in 2008. Throughout his career, Nouvel has redefined architectural design with his emphasis on material essence, context, and emotional resonance — proving that restraint and creativity are not mutually exclusive.