Design studio, Nantes
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“Métalobil, since its very begining, has always been a machine fabricating shapes, no matter which shapes.”
Freddy Bernard
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Métalobil was officially borned in 2004, but the story initiated even before!
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In 1995, Freddy Bernard, studying at the School of Fine Arts of Nantes, and Matthieu Lebot, architecture student also in Nantes, met for the first time. Nantes was a former industrial harbour, with a lot of abandoned spaces . Freddy, Matthieu and four other students are looking for new experiments : «we wanted to experiment creating objects, artistic installations, and poetry ». The huge empty spaces were a perfect opportunity. In front of the Dubigeon galleries (where are now the Machines de l’île, the workshop of the company La Machine and the Stéréolux bar) was an abandoned Blockhaus. After installing electricity, the team had its place: The DY 10 Blockhaus. It evolves quick into a self-organized collective of artists and architects, a platform of experimentation about city landscape. Nowadays, the Blockhaus DY10 is a regular association, which gathers 15 creative projects in all the fields of contemporary creation.
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” « Take your city» we said. The Blockhaus was a good place to begin this. It was an adventure : no heat, no light, no door. To territorialize was an artistic experience in itself. We made quite all our works for our art diplomas there, we created installations, exhibitions, and we organized also our vernissages. “
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In 1999, whereas they were working for their diploma exams, Freddy and Matthieu are asked to imagine a new signage system for Leroy-Merlin. They become partners into a design agency named Concepts Plastiques, so began the business. After several others projects, like the signage system of the Ker Lann university, the Great Blue Whale , a vegetable stair case, a self-sustained library for a private, they work in 2001 for the first time for the famous Lieu Unique, realizing a DJ furniture.
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Then, in 2004, they needed to change their organization: projects get always bigger, including always more technique and complexity. Métalobil became a SARL (french limited liability company). Soon after, they hire their first employee. Now Métalobil employs 15 people permanently, and its staff can gather up to 25 people on the biggest projects.
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