Grand Palais Paris: BBC in a World-Class Exhibition
In November 2023, BBC's home build kit was selected for inclusion in an exhibition at the Grand Palais, Paris — one of the most prestigious cultural venues in the world. James Marr was invited to write for the exhibition catalogue on reimagining bicycle craftsmanship.
James's essay argues that mass production has removed our agency over the objects we own — and that building your own bicycle is a direct act of reclaiming that agency. 'As humans we have engaged in the act of making for thousands of years,' he wrote.
The Grand Palais placement positions BBC not as a cycling company but as a participant in wider discourse about craft, sustainability, and what it means to make things in a consumer-driven world.
The appearance adds to BBC's cultural credibility alongside London Design Festival (2024), UK Bamboo Summit at Coventry University (2024), and The Engineering Club lecture (2025).
Key Facts
- Venue: Grand Palais, Paris
- Date: November 2023
- Contribution: Home build kit + catalogue essay by James Marr
"I strongly believe in the importance of physically touching, crafting and tweaking a design, until you have a unique finished product."
— James Marr, Grand Palais Paris catalogue, 2023