Birkenstock 1774 Presents “Funny City” Sculptural Installation by Serban Ionescu at Matter and Shape Paris 2026
Birkenstock 1774 unveils Funny City at
Matter and Shape Paris 2026
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During Matter and Shape Paris 2026, Birkenstock 1774 presented Funny City, a sculptural installation created in collaboration with Romanian artist Serban Ionescu. The project accompanied the launch of the new 1774 Romanticismo collection, exploring the relationship between design, architecture and artistic expression.
Presented in the Jardin des Tuileries, the installation forms part of the fair’s 2026 theme, Scale, inviting visitors to experience sculptural forms arranged like miniature architectural landscapes.
Sculptural forms inspired by architecture and scale
Working across sculpture, painting, design and architecture, Serban Ionescu is recognised for his expressive use of colour, playful lines and intuitive approach to form. His practice often explores the interaction between space, movement and scale, translating architectural ideas into sculptural compositions.
With Funny City, Ionescu developed groups of sculptural objects arranged like small “cities”, where each form interacts with the others. Distinct yet interdependent, the elements create a visual dialogue between symmetry and intentional asymmetry, encouraging visitors to observe how the sculptures relate to one another in space.
The title Funny City refers to this deliberate disruption of balance — a playful asymmetry that redirects attention and invites a slower engagement with the installation.
A monumental sculpture in the Jardin des Tuileries
At the centre of the project stands Turnstile for a Smile 2026, a monumental arch sculpture installed during the fair in the Jardin des Tuileries.
Standing over three metres high, the structure is produced in steel and aluminium, materials frequently used in Ionescu’s work. The sculpture also incorporates leather from the Birkenstock 1774 Romanticismo collection, establishing a direct dialogue between the installation and the brand’s design language.
Conceived as a symbolic passageway, the arch invites visitors to walk through it, entering the world of Birkenstock 1774 through a sculptural gesture.
The Romanticismo collection celebrates two Birkenstock icons
The installation accompanies the launch of the 1774 Romanticismo collection, inspired by the expressive spirit of nineteenth century Italian Romanticism, a movement associated with imagination, emotion and the pursuit of aesthetic form.
The collection also marks the 50th anniversary of two iconic Birkenstock silhouettes — the Milano sandal and the Boston clog, both originally introduced in 1976. Through contemporary materials and colour palettes, the collection revisits these heritage designs while maintaining their functional identity.
Funny City continues at the Birkenstock 1774 Paris Studio
Following its presentation at Matter and Shape, the project continues from 27th to 29th of March at the Birkenstock 1774 Paris studio, located at 390 Rue Saint Honoré, just a short walk from the Jardin des Tuileries. Presented as part of the Matter and Shape “Hors les Murs” programme, this second installation offers visitors a closer perspective on the sculptures and the creative process behind the project.
The space will also feature archival materials from Birkenstock’s design history, a small reading library connected to the project and a short documentary exploring the making of Funny City.
Through this collaboration with Serban Ionescu, Birkenstock 1774 continues its dialogue with artists and designers, exploring the intersection between contemporary art, architectural form and product design.
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