Henri Corbin de Mangoux on Liaigre’s Next American Chapter
Living abroad brought Henri Corbin de Mangoux closer to his French roots, but Japan left a particularly lasting impression. Its sense of restraint and ability to convey emotion through simplicity shaped how he approaches both work and home. After a career spanning consulting, technology and financial services, design offered a way to bring those experiences together with a longstanding personal interest in art.
Now CEO of Liaigre USA, Corbin de Mangoux is bringing that perspective to the French interiors and architecture house’s next chapter in the American market. He joined Liaigre in 2024 to lead its business across Southeast Asia, India and the Pacific. His new role includes broadening its established residential practice through hospitality, branded residences and larger real estate projects, while maintaining the close relationships that underpin its work.
Miami is central to those ambitions. Corbin de Mangoux sees a natural connection between the city’s coastal way of life and Liaigre’s understated interiors, with further developments planned for Florida in 2027. As the house takes on projects of greater scale, he emphasizes an approach rooted in the particularities of each place and the people who will inhabit it.
In conversation with Miami Living, Corbin de Mangoux discusses the balance between growth and intimacy, what a branded residence should offer its residents, and why good design requires something his earlier industries approached differently: time.
Miami Living (ML): What is the first priority you want to address as CEO of Liaigre USA?
Henri: My first priority it to continue to expand our presence in the U.S. among a community of architects and designers who have been doing remarkable work in promoting Liaigre for decades.
We are also willing to attract new types of clients, including young art collectors, successful entrepreneurs… Of course we are continuously and carefully working to retain our long-standing clients, who are deeply attached to the timeless value of the Liaigre style, while also catering to the new lifestyles of a more eclectic clienteles.
In today's highly competitive environment, where our customers are constantly bombarded with choices, we must continue to stand out by showcasing our elegance and authentic expertise, while keeping them in step with the times to meet these new expectations.
Following our hospitality and Liaigre branded residences project in Florence Italy with the Capella Group due to open in 2028, we are working on branded future property projects in close collaboration with very high-end real estate developers. To serve these three discerning client bases—trade clients, end ones and hospitality actors-, we are strengthening our creative teams to support these developments while preserving our “fit in the context” DNA.
ML: You previously led Liaigre across Southeast Asia, India and the Pacific. What did that experience teach you about adapting to local tastes while preserving the house’s identity?
Henri: We were just talking about our “Fit in the Context” culture, which lies at the heart of Liaigre’s long-standing values. More specifically, we build very close relationships with our partners and clients. Liaigre as all very high-end Houses is a relationship-based business. We specialize in building exclusive relationships and offering unique, meaningful experiences that embody our French art of living and our French spirit.
By understanding our clients’ expectations and taking a holistic approach, we serve as ambassadors for this art of living. At Liaigre, there is this unexpected juxtaposition between a strong and relatively authoritative brand culture and in the relationships, it builds with its customers and stakeholders a sense of intimacy, closeness, and a certain humility.
ML: Where does Miami fit into your plans for Liaigre’s U.S. growth?
Henri: Miami’s real estate market is booming, with unprecedented growth in residential and hospitality sectors, making it a natural fit for Liaigre. At the same time, the local culture resonates strongly with the coastal lifestyle which is dear to our history and style: lifestyle at sea with yachts, South Beach and Palm Beach... which align with Liaigre’s connection to the sea and the costal lifestyle generally speaking.
Miami and Florida are a priority market for Liaigre. The brand has had a commercial presence there for over 15 years, and new developments are planned for 2027 which we will disclose soon.
ML: How would you interpret Miami’s distinctive character through Liaigre’s understated approach to design?
Henri: Our minimalist aesthetic, clean lines, and casual-chic style blend perfectly with the local lifestyle. We have a 30-year history in the region, which began in Saint-Barths, where Christian Liaigre had a vacation home, the Hotel Sereno, and the now-defunct Liaigre showroom—which felt like a small shed…This long and poetic history remains a vital source of inspiration for travel within Studio Liaigre to this day.
ML: As Liaigre pursues larger real estate projects, how do you protect the attention to detail that defines a bespoke private home?
Henri: What defines Liaigre (in particular) is its “no compromise” approach; as a result, in both the Studio and development departments, we have the luxury of choosing our projects and partners. We limit the number of projects we can take on and make sure we have the right people to work with, sharing a common philosophy and eye on a refined lifestyle and what it demands.
On the retail and collection side, we’ve been using the same workshops for 40 years: same DNA, same quality.
ML: What should a Liaigre branded residence offer beyond the name attached to the building?
Henri: Choosing Liaigre for a branded residence guarantees an experience that seamlessly combines comfort, well-being, and sophistication, executed to perfection.
It is the ultimate blend of quality and durability, as well as elegance and beauty. I would add that a Liaigre-branded residence benefits from the same level of thoughtful design. It is never merely a concept; it is always the result of an in-depth and distinctive study that will not be replicated elsewhere and will remain unique within its context, culture, and geography.
ML: “Timeless design” is central to Liaigre’s philosophy. What makes an interior stand the test of time rather than simply look current?
Henri: “Fashions come and go, but style endures” is still the best definition for a house like Liaigre! At Liaigre, style is mainly about a warm simplicity underspinned by a serious consideration for functions and needs, the perfection of proportions and a virtuous relationship to space…Liaigre uplifts lifestyle and conveys wellbeing: this, last in time.
ML: Your career spans consulting, technology and financial services. What drew you to design, and what has working in this field changed about your approach to business?
Henri: Two things drew me in: first of all, art and design are fields that have always been to my personal taste, so I’m happy today to be working in those areas. Also, since I’ve always lived abroad, I’ve come to realize—as I’ve moved further from my roots—that I appreciate the distinctive character of France even more deeply. French design in general, and Liaigre in particular therefore represented a perfectly natural evolution. The real difference compared to my previous experiences is managing Liaigre’s long-term approach: “Time for creativity.” It takes time to craft things, while to attract people, we need to be part of a dynamic that draws inspiration from my past experiences.
ML: Having worked across different regions, is there a place that has particularly shaped your personal sense of home?
Henri: For me, there’s a “before” and an “after” Japan. That culture has left a very strong impression on me—especially the sense of restraint and the ability to get to the heart of things, including emotions. I’ve made this highly developed sense of essentialism my own, both in my personal and professional lives.