Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

Internationally acclaimed French designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have worked together in their Paris based design studio since 1999. Their work ranges from functional objects to large-scale architectural projects and can be found in the permanent collections of major international institutions.

For the Miami Design District, UAP worked collaboratively with the Bouroullec team to design develop, engineer and document a series of permanent sculptural canopies, utilising a modular cloud form seen in their earlier work. Fabricated in laser cut and hand-formed stainless steel with 60 individual modules, UAP worked with the client to develop a system that maintains the integrity of the simple modular design, while meeting the structural requirements of the material, scale and exterior site conditions.

The resulting work titled Nuage, promenade, offers shade, shelter and a revitalized urban experience to the Paseo Ponti in the Miami Design District. The canopy engages with the built environment, casting shadow and light through blue and green coloured glass cells. Native plants that will grow and envelope the work over time create a natural connection with surrounding architecture, offering a new and revitalising encounter with the
urban environment.