Joseph-André Motte experimented widely with wood, stainless steel, Formica, and plastics. The variety of these materials reflected a desire to humanize the spaces he worked in, particularly as the use of concrete and other typically cold substances became fashionable in architecture. He once explained, “material is in charge, then imagination.” Motte’s choice of otherwise overlooked materials contributed to cost-effective production. His desire to be economical existed in tandem with his belief that the large-scale manufacture of works offered consumers a means to personalize their living environments. The Wall Shelf is an early example of Motte’s collaboration with Charron Groupe 4.
