By Laura Keogh - 09 Jul, 2021
Like so many great artists and designers, Charlotte Perriand had a unique and recognisable style. Her approach to design was innovative and at times obsessive, with her focus on the interrelation of the elements to combine function and sophistication.
Who is Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999)
Born in Paris, Perriand started as a student of furniture design at the School of the Central Union of Decorative Arts and later trained as an architect. She drew attention early on with designs that featured glass, chrome and metal plated surfaces, an innovative style in a more ‘decorative’ time. Her interest moved to low-cost housing and mass production and lead to a role at the studio of Le Corbusier, the father of modern architecture. As part of the team, Perriand designed three chairs using tubular steel frames, gradually moving towards more egalitarian designs using more affordable materials. She spent time in Japan and in exile in Vietnam during World War Two, a period that influenced her design process.
Les Arcs ski resort built in the late 1960's was designed by Charlotte Perriand
Perriand the designer
Perriand’s creative work began with forming a connection. As an architect and designer with a holistic approach, her focus was on how people interact with furniture and space. She allowed materials to inform her designs; one story goes that she adapted her table design to suit the grain of a particular piece of wood after meeting with the carpenter.
She collaborated with artists like Léger and Picasso, using a Picasso print as part of the window blind design for low-cost housing. Once again, her focus was on connecting art and functional design, and making it accessible.
As a designer ahead of her time, Perriand has more recently started to receive the recognition she deserves as a pioneer and design master. The timeless appeal of her design practice and philosophy is a testament to that.
In describing the Japanese tea house that she designed in 1993 (at the age of 90!), Perriand said: “My idea was to create an ephemeral tea area where people could meditate and dream about a new golden age, a place humming with cultural exchange, as well as diversity and universality.”
See below a few of Charlotte's iconic furniture designs:
LC7 Swivel Chair (1928)
529 Rio Coffee Table (1962)
LC2 Armchair (1928)
Ombre Chair (1928)
A truly unique designer, both timeless and ahead of her time.
Check out the Charlotte Perriand LC4 Chaise Lounge available on Collécte.
