BEYOND PIXEL

A project to restore the value of the travel experience and the traveler's identity - LE TRAIN DES PIGNES

Scope of actions :

Creative process : Deployment of a guiding narrative line to keep the general concept all year, site analysis, on site inspection, scenography conception and 3D renders of all spaces.

Management process : Leadership of a team of 3 people for 11 months

Executive tasks : Technical plans of all the structure and furniture

Location :
Nice / France

Date :
Diploma project

Nature of the project :
Interior architecture

EMERGENCE OF THE PROJECT -STORY TELLING

It all began with a conversation about the superficiality of our interactions — particularly the way we relate to the Other.

We believe that tourism today has become excessively commercialized and mechanized, having lost its original spirit of discovery. Places that were once remote and magical — such as Lapland or the secluded islands of Malaysia — are now exploited primarily for profit, with visitors often more focused on generating content to share than on truly exploring.

Mystical places have thus become profane spaces, often reduced to entertainment zones in highly touristic areas.

This trend has transformed travelers into mere tourists.

Today, the word 'tourist' can feel offensive — as if it strips a traveler of their true essence: to travel. Pejoratively, it implies that the tourist — fond of organized tours and sightseeing — does not truly travel, but merely moves through places.

At the same time, international tourism creates major environmental issues. Alarming statistics highlight the significant impact of aviation and rail transport on pollution.

In this project, our aim is to restore the deeper meaning of travel — reconnecting it with authentic experience, spontaneous curiosity, and intellectual stimulation.
We hope to move away from travel as a mere consumer product and instead propose an alternative approach — one that can justify the high cost of travel (such as a train ticket) by emphasizing enriching, environmentally respectful experiences.

CONCEPT

Our concept aims to revitalize the mountain villages of the French hinterland by using the Train des Pignes and repurposing its stations as part of an alternative journey that serves two purposes:

First, it allows travelers to become autonomous in how they experience and consume travel, guided by their own intuitive curiosity rather than predefined routes.

Second, it encourages exchanges beyond monetary transactions, fostering meaningful connections with local residents — something they deeply value, as we observed during our on-site visit.

The experience ultimately leads to personalized travel scenarios, shaped by each individual’s preferences and the duration of their journey.