MAXIMUM

Founded in 2015 in Ivry-sur-Seine by Armand Bernoud, Romée de la Bigne, and Basile de Gaulle, Maximum is a design company specializing in furniture made from industrial waste.

From Decorative Arts School to Entrepreneurship

The founders met at the École nationale supérieure des Arts décoratifs (ENSAD). Their graduation project focused on DIY problem-solving, inspired by ingenious solutions born out of scarcity, like in Cuba. This experience led them to imagine a new production logic based on the reuse of resources.

Upcycling as a business model

Their first project was born from waste found in ENSAD’s trash bins: they created refillable pens from used test tubes and markers. They then realized the potential of mass-produced waste for large-scale production. With the support of Armand, who holds a degree in entrepreneurship, they launched Maximum on a simple premise: industrial waste is a free resource. This model allows for design-oriented, economic, and ecological creations, giving new life to already produced materials.

A defining commission

Their humble beginnings in a workshop provided by the city of Ivry-sur-Seine were boosted by an order from the Hopscotch group for the COP 21 in 2015. This order of Gravêne armchairs and Rotoman stools strengthened their credibility with industrialists.

A virtuous paradox

By collaborating with companies like Airbus or Servachem, they noted a paradox: the more industrialists reduce their waste, the more Maximum’s production is limited. Despite this constraint, they continue to develop collections and meet the needs of architects, hotels, and corporate headquarters. They also plan to reuse unique materials, such as the old curved glass from the Centre Pompidou. At Maximum, waste still has a bright future.