“Quercus Suber” en partenariat avec Forêt Modèle de Provence

Promoting local resources is one of the goals of the arts centre, which has become a discovery platform for the younger generation and a resource centre for established designers who rely on its network of craftspeople and producers for their projects. In the cork oak industry, several projects have emerged thanks to this long-term commitment: the Dutch duo Odd Matter with the MASS series, and this year, the first French production of Made in Situ by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance.

For the past six years, the villa Noailles has been working with Forêt Modèle de Provence, by co- organising a competition open to design projects using cork from the Var region.
It is now natural for designers to use local resources, their commitment even includes supporting local industries by using traditional crafts and creating innovative composite materials.
The twelve designers shortlisted in the Quercus suber competition provide an inspiring insight into these new perspectives, a response to the challenges of our time.
The cork oak, coming from the Latin word quercus suber, has been used since Antiquity for the many qualities of its bark. This noble tree grows in the countries of the Mediterranean basin (Spain, Italy, France, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Portugal), where it first appeared over 60 million years ago.
Despite the historical and heritage significance of the cork oak in our region, and its potential,
the cork economy still struggles to recover , this is the reason behind our initiatives and those of
committed stakeholders.

Forêt Modèle de Provence, an association recognised as of public interest, was founded in 2013 on the initiative of the Région Sud, which presides over its supervisory board. It is part of the Mediterranean and international network of Forêts Modèles, created in 1992.
The association is active in four major mountain ranges: Étoile and Garlaban in the Bouches-du- Rhône department, Sainte-Baume and Maures in the Var department. It rallies public and private structures to promote sustainable management of forest areas. It undertakes initiatives to promote our local resources (design competition around cork, research into climate change adaptation, cooperative on eco-materials, planting programme), and communicates with audiences and professionals (events, competitions, exhibitions, publications).
By creating a neutral space for exchanges, Forêt Modèle de Provence fosters positive action for the benefit of an exceptional area. In ten years of existence, its actions have helped to build a large network of elected representatives, institutional actors, foresters, territorial stakeholders and association representatives, and to contribute to the economic development of the sectors.

In addition to these initiatives, Forêt Modèle is involved in several major European projects and in the governance of various structures, for example by chairing the Natural Spaces, Agriculture and Forests commission of the Port-Cros National Park, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.