Jacques Biny is a major
French luminary from the era of the glorious 30’s. Unlike other
designers, he is also a publisher (serial industrial manufacturer) and
has collaborated with some of the best young designers of his time, such
as Michel Buffet, Gustave Gauthier, Jean Boris Lacroix or Charles
Ramos. Together, they embarked on the adventure of serial modern
lighting.
Graduated from the National School of Decorative Arts in Paris, Jacques
Biny first settled in Valence, his hometown, to work as a decorator.
Faced with a lack of lighting on his sites, he decided to design his
first models, which he offered to his customers. In 1950, following this
successful experience, he returned to Paris and five years later
founded his own modern lighting manufacturing workshop, Luminalite.
From then on, the latter participated assiduously in all major national
fairs, produced nearly 400 models over a span of thirty years in his
factory on Rue de la Folie Regnault. Luminalite also was prominently
involved in associative circles, defending the new science of
contemporary lighting.
Modern and a forerunner, the " designer-publisher " created a
sophisticated range of " rational lighting fixtures " for the home and
used the latest state-of-the-art materials such as microperforated sheet
metal or plexiglass. Under his pencil, the forms progressed and became
radicalised. The function and sobriety of the lines are essential: the
object by its design is summed up with elementary, pure shapes. Jacques
Biny worked for nearly thirty years on developing his profession by
perpetually questioning the functionality of models, as well as their
illuminating effectiveness - working on light quality sometimes to the
point of obsession.
In the 1960’s, Jacques Biny granted orders for light installations on
major projects, such as the grand cinema in Valence The Palace, the
rooms of the University City of Antony and Nanterre, the prefecture of
Valence or the Saint Nazaire Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
Jacques Biny suddenly died in 1976, while his Luminalite business was
booming. All of Jacques Biny’s work is different, consistent, and
intelligent. Jacques Biny is a kind of light conductor. His products are
still relevant. The Biny Table is resolutely modern.
In his own words, " It is the search for the correct balance between the
rigours of the technique and an aesthetic, which integrates with
contemporary architecture that has guided the creation of my lights ".
His early decorating experience allowed him to consider lighting
problems pragmatically and focus on his function.