François Scali and the Year 2000

Playback speed

Share post at current time

0:00

François Scali and the Year 2000

Once famous for a global network of "Genitron" clocks that counted down the seconds to the year 2000, this ingenious Parisian architect is now focused on how we get undressed before getting into bed.

Remo Giuffré

Dec 11, 2025

Once again, we are ending the week with a treat. In this special episode of the REMORANDOM video podcast I get to chat with longtime friend and hyper-inventive designer/architect François Scali about his early career in Paris; his pivot to furniture, lighting and object design with “Nemo”, in partnership with Alain Domingo in the early 1980s; his big break at the Pompidou Centre with “Genitron” and its celebration of the Year 2000; the abrupt end of that 13 year lucky streak as soon as we’d all reached that symbolic civilisational milestone; and the return to his design roots 25 years later with Tribute to Nemo in collaboration with Signé in Paris. What does all of this have to do with how you get undressed before getting into bed? Listen to find out.

You can also listen to or watch this episode on: YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts

The Year 2000

Remo Giuffré

Jun 23

For centuries "The Year 2000" was a potent symbol that represented “the future”, and for good reason. A change in millennium is nothing to be scoffed at. It is, by definition, ten times more significant than a plain old turn of the century.

Read full story