5 Reasons To Know Luxe French Furniture Designer Charlotte Perriand
When it comes to modern design, the name Charlotte Perriand doesn’t roll off our lips the way of Le Corbusier or Frank Lloyd Wright - but perhaps now’s the time to fix that.
Recently in Singapore to showcase Charlotte Perriand’s timeless designs, the designer's daughter and longtime assistant Pernette Perriand-Barsac shared with us the many ways in which the French architect and designer made an indelible impact on art and design.
#1: She was a feminist
Heralded as the first female architect and furniture designer, Perriand was a trailblazer for women in the professional world. “”For a woman in the ’30s and ’40s it wasn’t easy to find a foothold in design, but Charlotte’s avant-garde approach to design was truly unique. She impressed Le Corbusier, which is why he invited her to work with him.” explains Pernette.
#2: Her designs are still everywhere
The iconic and ubiquitous Chaise Longue-LC4 was designed by Perriand and Le Corbusier, and came about from the former’s study of the human form. Perriand believed that the traditional "long chair" hindered movement, and wanted to create a design that was informed by the curves of the body and natural movement.
#3: She was a visionary
As an early and celebrated proponent of minimalism, Perriand was one of the first to understand the importance of space as a commodity, and to rationalise her designs to accommodate this. “My favourite of her designs are her stackable chairs,” says Pernette. “They’re even more relevant today, with more people living in smaller spaces."
#4: Her influence is international
During her life, Perriand lived and worked in France, Japan, Vietnam and Brazil. “She didn’t believe in changing a culture, she believed that one must use local materials in creative ways. For her, materials were paramount.” Her impact on Japanese furniture design is clear - her minimalist approach married with traditional materials such as bamboo to create some of her most noteworthy pieces.
#5: Her style endures
Fourteen years after her death, Louis Vuitton paid homage to Perriand’s influence as a design luminary. The brand’s S/S 2014 Icons collection put a fashion spin on the architect’s aesthetic with a functional, colourful line, complementing a showcase of Perriand's beach house - built entirely by the French maison - at Design Miami in that same year. Pernette says, “They consider her one of the 20th century’s most iconic women.” Check out her collection with luxe furniture brand Cassina at Dream (456 River Valley Road)
Photos Dream
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