Design
Early career
After studying at École Boulle, École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and École des Beaux Arts in Kyoto, Jean-Philippe Lenclos began his professional career as Artistic Director at Peintures Gauthier, a company specialising in paints for outdoor use. This introduction to the world of industry, where he studied colour schemes for various products, would determine the direction of his future work researching colour for architecture and industrial products.
Interior design
Jean-Philippe Lenclos’s studies at École Boulle and École des Arts Décoratifs were focussed on architectural interiors. He researched the ways in which colour could transform the interior space and he has regularly taught colour in the architectural environment at École des Arts Décoratifs. Photo: Commission by Elle magazine for an interior decoration for a living room, exhibited at the Salon des Artiste Décorateurs in 1968.
Supergraphics
Supergraphics is an architectural movement born in the USA in the 1960s. The architect Charles Moore and his associates were the first people to employ its techniques in their design for the Californian sports club ‘Sea Ranch’. They worked with the graphic architect Barbara Stauffacher Solomon, who applied monumental graphics across the surfaces of the buildings. The concept that became known as ‘supergraphics’ consisted of using graphic designs to change the sense of an architectural space, often working on contrast to the existing forms and angles of a building. When Jean-Philippe Lenclos returned to France from Japan he was profoundly influenced by the culture of Rinpa, a practice of decorative arts developed in the 19th century. One of his first designs to show the influence of this movement was this auditorium for a university’s cultural centre in 1967.
Atelier 3D Couleur
After having worked independently for ten years, Lenclos opened his own agency in 1978, Atelier 3D Couleur. They specialised in the research and study of colour used in architecture, urban design and industrial product design. Their first projects were for industrial machinery and architecture, and housing developments. The studio also developed work in consumer goods such as electrical appliances, transport, sports equipment, building and decorating products, cosmetics and furnishing textiles.
Mira X
Mira X is a high quality producer of upholstery textiles and part of the Swiss group of companies Möbel Pfister. Mira X wanted to expand their European market and Atelier 3D Couleur was commissioned to design a new collection, called Mirvana. The target audience was architects and interior designers, who would use a range of products including rugs, carpets, curtains and upholstery for use in hotels, public spaces and corporate headquarters. 1984-1988
Star Forest parquet
Star Forest is the industry leader in parquet manufacture in China. In 2017 Jean-Philippe Lenclos was commissioned to create innovative concepts for new parquet designs. All types of wood were available for the design, in addition to natural pigments and innovative coatings to create new colours. And for certain designs the integration of stainless steel or brass was proposed.