Background

A trainee architect at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Isabelle Stanislas did not waste any time after graduation and founded a collective with photographers, landscape gardeners, and graphic designers, working together on innovative projects. In the early 2000s, she and her partner Leiko Oshima launched the So-An agency, named after a Japanese word that expresses the concept that only true skills and knowledge can broaden one’s fields of experience. Her unique talent for mixing different disciplines, from architecture to brand identity and set design, makes her stand out, leading to her commission to refurbish the grand ballroom and the reception hall of the Elysée Palace, the official residence of the President of France. 

Signature Style

A taste for minimalist, sharp lines, structure, and composition. Isabelle revitalises elements from the past. Thanks to her clever, unparalleled use of light and her preference for contemporary materials, she transforms ancient settings into future classics. Her affinity for and love of fashion contribute to her informed eye for the texture and feel of fabrics, especially when designing new spaces for famous fashion brands such as Hermès, Zadig & Voltaire, Valérie Hash, and Aurélie Bidermann. As for furniture, she is a master at combining contrasting materials—a perfect mix of perforated metal sheets, steel, concrete, onyx, cashmere, and resin—demonstrating her open mind when it comes to creativity. 

Showstoppers

A new capsule collection for Pradier-Jeauneau, simply called Kom, a Japanese word meaning “elevation,” comprising a modular sofa, a daybed, three stools, a shelf, three storage boxes, and a reading chair.