Ober Group Celebrates 100 Years with Immersive Exhibition at Paris Design Week 2025
Marking a century of material innovation and design-driven manufacturing, the Ober Group is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a dedicated exhibition during Paris Design Week 2025.
Held from September 4 to 8 at Galerie Joseph in the 3rd arrondissement, the exhibition is an immersive exploration of Ober's past, present and future, curated by Paris-based designers Normal Studio.
Founded in 1925, the Ober Group (parent company of Oberflex and Concrete LCDA) has evolved from its origins in Lorraine's oak forests into a key player in contemporary interior design. With a focus on wood veneer, lightweight concrete, acoustic panels and 100% natural wall coverings, the group is recognised for its sustainable approach to production and technical excellence. Its materials are widely used by architects and designers in France and around the world.
The centennial exhibition offers a physical encounter with the materials and ethos that define the group's creative identity. Conceived by Normal Studio, the group's artistic directors since 2024, the show features seven architectural installations, each crafted using Oberflex and Concrete LCDA's signature surfaces. These large-scale interventions highlight the creative potential of wood, concrete and hybrid materials in interior applications, balancing form, function and tactile experience.
Visitors begin their journey through the exhibition with a striking installation of 20 totems, pairing wood veneers with concrete panels to form a rich chromatic palette. At its centre, a six-metre-long table invites interaction with the materials (02), accompanied by stools made from the off-cuts used in the installation's creation.
Beyond this introduction, the exhibition unfolds with a series of spatial compositions. These include a cubic arch in three shades of Concrete LCDA (03) that act as a threshold into three installations: a shelving module that plays with volume and perspective (04); a trio of sculpted alcoves in oak and concrete (05); and a quiet acoustic structure that demonstrates the technical and visual strength of Obersound panels (06). Each element reflects the Ober Group's ongoing experimentation with scale, texture and surface expression.
A dedicated satellite space also presents a long-standing collaboration with French eyewear label Shelter. Known for its ultra-thin wooden frames and artisanal precision, Shelter brings a new dimension to the Ober story, showing how its materials can extend beyond interiors into wearable design.
With a century of innovation behind it, Ober continues to push forward. Since launching the Oberflex brand in 1968 (introducing the first high-pressure laminate panel with real wood veneer), the group has remained committed to sustainable processes and inventive use of materials. In recent years, this has included the introduction of SuperOrganic, a collection of 100% natural panels, and a joint series between Oberflex and Concrete LCDA that brings wood veneer patterns onto concrete.
This year's exhibition not only marks a major milestone for the group, but also signals the beginning of a new chapter shaped by deeper collaboration between its brands. Under the artistic direction of Normal Studio, the Ober Group's vision is expanding, anchored in craftsmanship, informed by industry, and inspired by the creative potential of materials.
