Celebrating a Decade of Design: STRATES at Galerie Philia

To celebrate its tenth anniversary, Galerie Philia presents STRATES, an ambitious exhibition spread across two of France’s most striking Brutalist sites: Jacques Kalisz’s Mont d’Est car park and Ricardo Bofill’s Espaces Abraxas in Noisy-le-Grand, Grand Paris. On view until November 30, 2025, the show reflects on a decade of curatorial exploration in which the gallery has continually bridged contemporary design, architecture, philosophy, and civic life.

A Journey Through Contemporary Design

Since its founding in 2015, Galerie Philia has gained recognition for situating contemporary design within charged architectural environments—from Le Corbusier’s Cité Radieuse in Marseille to Oscar Niemeyer’s MAC Niterói in Brazil. With STRATES, this approach continues: Kalisz’s monumental car park is reimagined as an experimental exhibition space, its raw concrete geometry reinterpreted through design.

“Our curatorial approach has always been to place contemporary design in dialogue with architecture, rather than inside neutral white cubes,” says Ygaël Attali, Galerie Philia’s co-founder. “When we encountered Jacques Kalisz’s Mont d’Est car park, we immediately recognized its extraordinary potential—a monumental yet fragile masterpiece whose dormant energy could be reawakened through design.”

Reimagining Grand Paris’s Brutalist Ruins as Living Narratives

Once envisioned as a futuristic model of suburban living, Noisy-le-Grand still embodies the remnants of its post-war utopian ideals—making it a fitting stage for STRATES. “Our aesthetic often oscillates between Brutalist geometry and wabi-sabi imperfection,” Attali explains. “Noisy-le-Grand expresses that duality perfectly: Bofill’s Espaces Abraxas are grand and operatic, while Kalisz’s car park is raw, infrastructural, and visibly fragile. That fragility moves us—it reveals the passage of time, the human story embedded in concrete.”

Rather than concealing the site’s imperfections, STRATES embraces them as part of the artwork. “For us, beauty lies in both form and narrative,” Attali continues. “The cracks, stains, and erosion are not flaws but memories.” Across the street, Bofill’s Abraxas complex provides a theatrical counterpoint—its cinematic aura amplifying the exhibition’s dialogue between monumentality and decay.

Civic Renewal and Community Engagement

The exhibition also aligns with a broader civic renewal in Noisy-le-Grand, where city officials and SOCAREN are working to revive its monumental modernist landscape. “These spaces once symbolized the ambition of self-sufficient urban satellites around Paris,” says Attali. “Today, they’re being rediscovered as living heritage.”

Rooted in the local community, STRATES involves residents in its organization and guided tours. “We didn’t want to parachute in a show,” Attali reflects. “We wanted to build something that belongs to the place. In five years, I hope this neighborhood will be seen not as a relic, but as a foundation for new urban vitality.”

The Impact of STRATES on Design and Architecture

STRATES is not just an exhibition; it’s a conversation starter. It challenges us to think about the relationship between design and architecture. How do these two fields interact? Can design breathe new life into forgotten spaces? These questions resonate throughout the exhibition, inviting visitors to engage with the artworks and the spaces they inhabit.

The exhibition also serves as a reminder of the power of design to evoke emotions. Each piece tells a story, reflecting the history and culture of its surroundings. By showcasing contemporary design in such a unique context, STRATES encourages us to appreciate the beauty in imperfection and the narratives that shape our environments.

Conclusion: A New Chapter for Galerie Philia

As STRATES unfolds, it marks a new chapter for Galerie Philia. The gallery's commitment to exploring the intersections of design, architecture, and community is evident in every aspect of the exhibition. It’s a celebration of ten years of innovation and a glimpse into the future of design in urban spaces.

Written by Otávio Santiago, a designer passionate about creating meaningful visual experiences through graphic, motion, and 3D design. Based between Berlin and Lisbon, he works across disciplines—from print and branding to digital and animation.

In this vibrant landscape of creativity, I invite you to explore how design can transform spaces and narratives. Join us at STRATES and witness the unfolding story of contemporary design in Noisy-le-Grand.