A giant flower by Uchronia blooms in the Grand Palais for Paris Design Week 2026

The France-based multidisciplinary collective Uchronia presents Le Grand Bouquet, a large-scale floral installation created by architect and founder of the collective, Julien Sebban, for the Grand Palais in Paris, where it is on view from September 11 – 20, 2026, as part of the institution’s Design and Arts and Crafts program during Paris Design Week this year.

Installed in the heart of the Palais d’Antin Rotunda hall, Le Grand Bouquet appears in dialogue with the historic architecture of the Grand Palais, reinterpreting its decorative vocabulary through the floral motif. “Its form draws inspiration from the floral motif depicted in the floor mosaic and the plant-inspired mouldings that adorn the arcades. The stylised, luminous petals seem to emerge from the floor as if growing naturally, while their arrangement follows the circular flow of the space and guides the eye toward the ceiling of the hall. The artwork becomes a living extension of the architecture,” the press release reads.

The viewing experience begins outside the building, where an inflatable structure on the forecourt creates an entrance into Uchronia’s playful landscape. Its generous, colourful forms contrast with the classical rigour of the Grand Palais façade, introducing joy and whimsy before visitors cross into the hall “With Le Grand Bouquet, we aim to celebrate joy as a force of resistance and unity. Through this monumental flower blooming in the heart of the Grand Palais, the installation invites visitors to marvel and share in the experience. In a context often marked by uncertainty, it affirms the power of beauty, imagination and optimism as means of forging connections and sharing a common experience,” the official release notes.

The installation also reflects the Grand Palais's renewed role after four years of renovation. Reopened with a broader, more inclusive cultural program, the institution is once again positioning itself as a meeting place for art, design and the public, hosting major exhibitions, performances and encounters while making parts of the building freely accessible. Located within the Grand Palais, the Design and Arts and Crafts Boutique brings together a curated selection of contemporary craftsmanship, with objects that explore material innovation, sustainability, functionality and enduring techniques.