On March 7th, at the heart of Paris — just inside the Jardin des Tuileries — visitors stepped into a space where bamboo told stories.

As part of the 2025 edition of Matter and Shape, Chinese design studio Jianze introduced a project that felt both quietly radical and deeply rooted. In collaboration with Finnish designer Ville Kokkonen, Jianze presented a study in Chinese bamboo — not just the material, but its philosophy, process, and place in contemporary design.

The installation featured a sculptural lounge chair and side table
crafted from “solid bamboo” — a rare species from southern China known as 棕竹 (Zongzhu). Alongside them, a series of bamboo-woven light fixtures created with heritage bamboo artisan Hu Zhengren illuminated the space with delicate precision. Surrounding these objects were samples of various regional bamboo varieties - unique in colour, density, and personality - sourced from across China.

In the middle of Paris, a quiet celebration of Chinese material culture unfolded.

At New Piece, Jianze is one of the original voices we’re proud to present. Their work reflects a key truth about Eastern design: that form often begins in the forest, and meaning is carried not just in shape, but in making.

In much of Asia, nature is not just inspiration, it is instruction. Bamboo is fast-growing, resilient, and widely available. For generations, it has been used for both building and crafting.

But what makes Jianze’s work compelling is not just their technical mastery, it’s the way they allow raw material to lead the design process. It’s a kind of humility that feels both ancient and necessary today.