Sounds Like Paulin
Form & sound meet in elegant design as Tony visits Paulin’s new recording studio in Paris
TC watching La Haine in the Sounds Like Paulin studio, and the Mitterrand Desk Chair commissioned in 1983 for the presidential office
Tony recently visited longtime friend Benjamin Paulin in Paris, co-founder of Paulin, Paulin, Paulin, the family studio preserving the legacy of French furniture designer Pierre Paulin. What started as a furniture atelier is now expanding into sound with Benjamin’s new initiative: Sounds Like Paulin — a Paris-based recording studio and creative hub.
Described as an “immersive sound salon,” the project’s mission is to support musicians and composers, foster collaboration, and offer a space for artists and creatives to experiment. With endorsements from contemporary musical luminaries such as Frank Ocean, Travis Scott, and Rosalía, this step into music production feels like a natural evolution for the progressive design studio.
Ensemble Dune by Pierre Paulin. Image credit: Adrien Dirand
The project was also teased during Louis Vuitton’s recent Men’s Fall-Winter fashion show, curated by Pharrell Williams, which presented the brand’s ‘future living concept.’ Central to the show was Paulin’s iconic Tapis-Siège sofa, installed within a model listening room that doubled as a design centrepiece.
Tony’s connection to Paulin spans a decade. In January 2015 under Tony’s creative direction, Wallpaper* featured Paulin’s inimitable Dune Ensemble sofa system, highlighting both the studio’s reputable heritage and its futuristic design vision.
Wallpaper*, January 2015
That same edition contains an article revisiting Pierre Paulin’s long-delayed Herman Miller project, originally paused in 1972 due to the international oil crisis — a decision Paulin later described as “the biggest regret of his career.” 42 years later, the project was realised by Nicolas Ghesquière’s Louis Vuitton for Art Basel Miami 2014, affirming the continuing relevance of Paulin’s designs and ideas.
‘Given its futuristic (not to mention comfortable and ergonomic) bent, perhaps the wait was worthwhile. Paulin’s designs seem more relevant now than ever.’ (Wallpaper*, January 2015). In 2026, this remains just as true.
