Charlotte Perriand 1903-1999 Philosopher Of Innovative Modern Furniture Design
By Panayiotis Vrizas “Metal plays the same part in furniture as cement has done in architecture. It is a Revolution.
The future will favour materials which best solve the problems propounded by the new man... We have stated the problem; now we must solve it...”
Charlotte Perriand, 1929 Wood or Metal, published article 1 Contents
Page Introduction 3 Background and Education 5 Her Philosophy 7 Her Early Work 1925-1927 10 Perriand’s Collaboration With Le Corbusier 1927-1937 11 Her Work After Le Corbusier 15 Her Influences 16 Her Work Overall 17 Conclusion 18 More works 19 Reference List 23
2 Introduction One of the most innovative and influential interior architects and furniture designers of the 20th century (Vernissage, 2010), Charlotte Perriand’s work is classified as modern (Barsac, 2011). Having introduced the “machine age” aesthetic in designing furniture in steel, aluminium and glass, Perriand is the name behind the famous B306 chaise longue (fig. 1), the B301 slingback (fig. 2) and the LC2 Grand Confort chairs (fig. 3) by Le Corbusier.
Figure 1: B306 chaise longue Figure 2: B301 slingback Figure 3: LC2 Grand Confort chair 3 These designs were then, and are still today, considered icons of the machine age (Design Museum, n.d.). Perriand belonged to the Modernist movement, the avant-garde of the 1930’s, but avoided the decorative trends of the time and applied Taylorism (used in car industry), a new rational method, to furniture design and home organisation, making better use of space .She was inspired by metal structures, such as railway stations, bridges and covered markets (Barsac, 2011).
Figure 4: Covered bridge 4 Background and Education Perriand was born in Paris in 1903 and grew up between Paris and the rural region of Savoie in the mountains (Design Museum, n.d.). This is probably why she was fascinated and inspired by mountains and was close to the rural community all her life (Barsac, 2011). In 1920, she won a scholarship and studied at the Union Centrale des Arts Decoratifs in Paris (fig. 5), where was taught not only to draw, but also to analyse form and explore the variety of shapes in nature.
Figure 5: Union Centrale des Arts Decoratifs in Paris 5 Perriand was taught by Henri Rapin (fig. 6) (Barsac, 2011) but also had evening classes with Paul Follot (fig. 7) and Maurice Dufrene (fig. 8), all great furniture designers (Rüegg, 2004). As her school excluded the avant-garde movements in architecture and painting, she attended extra drawing and painting classes and learned about the great modern painters, the Cubist theory and the use of contrast (Barsac, 2011).
Figure 6: Henri Rapin Figure 7: Paul Follot Figure 8: Maurice Dufrene 6 Her Philosophy Perriand valued simplicity, naturalness and grace. Her philosophy was not only to create innovative, functional furniture and living places, but also to satisfy people’s needs to live harmoniously. Her goal was to develop affordable, attractive furniture for all, her desire for an “art of living” (McLeod, 2003, pp.10-11). Her political beliefs for a better future were reflected in her work: a good design should create a better society (McLeod, 2003)
7 Perriand graduated in 1925 and went to work with the new generation of Bauhaus designers (fig. 9), introducing tubular furniture to France (Barsac, 2011); she was inspired by the machine aesthetic of the motorcars and bicycles in Paris (Design Museum, n.d.). That year, she participated in an exhibition, supported by her teachers Dufrene and Rapin, as well as Henri Clouzot (fig. 10), the director of the Musee Galliera (fig. 11).
Figure 9: Bauhaus Designers Figure 10: Henri Clouzot Figure 11: Musee Galliera 8 In 1926 she exhibited ‘a salon corner’ (fig. 12), then developed a cupboard for silverware (fig. 13) using metal combined with expensive wood for the first time. She designed tables with glass and nickel-plated metal, and lamps. In 1927 after being rejected to work for Le Corbusier, with the famous saying “we don’t embroider cushions here”, Perriand designed the “bar under the roof” (fig. 14) while renovating her apartment, transforming the largest room into a metal and glass bar, rather than a living room. She was a very determined and talented woman (Rüegg, 2004).
Figure 12: Salon corner Figure 13: Silverware cabinet Figure 14: Bar under the roof 9 Her Early Work 1925-1927 Together with other designers, they developed storage units and presented a new kind of apartment. Perriand prepared her “dining room” (fig. 15) (Rüegg, 2004).
Figure 15: Dining room 10 Perriand’s Collaboration With Le Corbusier 1927-1937 Exhibiting her “bar under the roof” with tubular steel furniture at the Salon d’ Automne, gave her immediate success in the press and Le Corbusier asked her to join his studio (fig. 16) in 1927. As Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret’s associate, Perriand was responsible for the furniture designs of their projects.
Figure 16: Le Corbusier studio Figure 17: Le Corbusier with Charlotte Perriand 11 Perriand developed new pieces of metal furniture, a dining room (design from her apartment), swivel chairs (fig. 18), storage units with sliding aluminium doors and surfaces such as mirrors, nickel-plated sheet metal, colourful leather and shinny paint. Pull out tables (fig. 19), built-in cupboards and generally a new conception of space was displayed. In an exhibition in Stuttgart she introduced the swivel stool (fig. 20) and the Tabouret DE (fig. 21). In 1928 Perriand designed the three famous chairs.
Figure 18: Swivel chair Figure 19: Pull out tables Figure 20: Swivel stool Figure 21: Tabouret DE 12 The extendable table (fig. 22) was built in 1930. She designed bedrooms (fig. 23), dining rooms (fig. 24), kitchens (fig. 25) and nurseries (Rüegg, 2004).
Figure 22: Extendable table Figure 23: Bedrooms Figure 24: Dining rooms Figure 25: Kitchen 13 After 1930, Perriand often visited the country to ski, climb, walk or swim using photography as a notebook (Design Museum, n.d.). Being inspired by the “laws of nature”, especially mountains, photography was very important to support her study for designing furniture and to develop her space arrangement skills (Barsac, 2011). Through photography she explored elements formed or deformed by nature (driftwood, shells, debris) providing a source of inspiration and played a role in her perception of art and design (Rüegg, 2004). She designed furniture as if they were an extension of the human body (Ramin. J., 2006).
By the mid-1930’s Perriand was experimenting with rustic materials such as wood, canvas, cane and later bamboo (in Japan), to develop affordable, functional and appealing mass manufactured furniture for all, reaching her goal (Design Museum, n.d.).
14 Her Work After Le Corbusier In 1937 she left Le Corbusier’s studio and some of her later work include: a stand at the 1937 Paris exhibition with Fernand Leger, worked for the Japanese Ministry of Trade and Industry as an official advisor on Industrial design until 1940 (creating products to export to the west); a ski resort in Savoie (fig. 26), designed prefabricated aluminium buildings with Pierre Jeanneret and Jean Prouve, collaborated with Fernand Leger designing a hospital (Saint-Lo) and worked with Le Corbusier on his apartment in Marseilles. Other work includes furniture of the League of Nations building in Geneva, Air France offices in many cities and designed the French Tourist office in London’s Piccadilly (fig. 28).
Figure 26: Ski resort in Savoie Figure 27: Refuge Barrel Figure 28: French tourist office in London’s Piccadilly 15 Her Influences Perriand was influenced by Le Corbusier, but also by her experiences in Russia, South America, Indochina and India (Rüegg, 2004); especially while living in Japan and Vietnam, she combined many functional Japanese elements with Vietnamese skill in working with natural materials. These themes continued for her rest of her career (Abbas. A., n.d).
Figure 29: Chaise-longue, bamboo 16 Her Work Overall Perriand has done amazing work on tables, armchairs, stackable plywood chairs and more, but shelving is the most representative piece of the combination of raw and industrial inspirations, which still influence designers today. She worked with famous companies reproducing her designs, such as Thonet (1930’s) and Cassina (1964).
Perriand contributed to women’s liberation, by introducing the open kitchen so the housewife was no longer shut away in a kitchen. She is the only French woman in architectural circles who worked equally with men and opened the way for women architects and industrial designers (Barsac, 2011).
In 1985 the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris held a retrospective for her career. In 1998, the Design Museum in London honoured Perriand with a retrospective of her work, and the same year her autobiography is published, A Life of Creation. Perriand died in Paris in 1999 (Ramin. J., 2006).
17 Conclusion Perriand was a great force and made history in the world of design with her unique creativity that still inspires designers today. Her designs and writings are a reminder of what “good” and lasting design is (Watson. A., n.d.). Her work is summarised excellently by a short film of the exhibition held in 2010, by the Museum of Design in Zurich (fig. 30) (Vernissage, 2010).
Figure 30: Museum of design in Zurich 18 More Works
Figure 31: 526 Nuage Figure 32: Nuage Bibliothèque 19 Figure 33: Mid Mod Figure 34: Console Figure 35: Bench 20 Figure 36: Racks with 3 Plastic Drawers Figure 37: Coffee Table 21 Figure 38: Free Shape Low Table Figure 39: Bench 22 Reference List Abbas. A. (n.d) Charlotte Perriand. [Online]. Available from: http://furniture.about.com/od/furnishingdesignresources/p/Charlotte-Perriand. htm [Accessed 21th November 2012]
Watson. A. (n.d.) Charlotte Perriand: Living Design. [Online]. Available from: http://www.dhub.org/charlotte-perriand-living-design/ [Accessed 22th November 2012]
Barsac, J. (2011) Charlotte Perriand and photography: a wide-angle eye.1st ed. Milan: 5 Continents Editions.
Design Museum. (n.d.) CHARLOTTE PERRIAND Architect + Furniture Designer (1903-1999). [Online]. Available from: http://designmuseum. org/design/charlotte-perriand [Accessed 25th November 2012]
Figure 1: B306 chaise longue [Online] Available from: http://www.zlatenzanaet.com/wp-content/uploads/B306-Chaise-Longue_1.jpg [Accessed: 20th November 2012].
Figure 2: B301 slingback [Online] Available from: http://www.cassinausa.com/pics/lc1_villachurch_big.jpg [Accessed: 20th November 2012].
23 Figure 3: LC2 Grand Confort chair [Online] Available from: http://www.besthousedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/le-petit-confort- chair-black-LC2-588x372.jpg [Accessed: 20th November 2012].
Figure 4: Covered bridge [Online] Available from: http://suerteblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/charlotte-perriand_photo-furniture-4- 480x243.jpg?w=500 [Accessed: 20th November 2012].
Figure 5: Union Centrale des Arts Decoratifs in Paris [Online] Available from: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azECgcqXGLY/T7bp__mipXI/ AAAAAAAAAJ0/Msjgf6Xy-Qw/s1600/art+deco.jpg [Accessed: 20th November 2012].
Figure 6: Henri Rapin Online] Available from: http://www.apophtegme.com/ARTS/images/froment-henri.jpg [Accessed: 20th November 2012].
Figure 7: Paul Follot [Online] Available from: http://www.macklowegallery.com/images/CMS/Alphonse%20Fouquet.jpg [Accessed: 20th November 2012].
Figure 8: Maurice Dufrene [Online] Available from: http://www.frenchart-deco.com/medias/biographie/49_J.ADNET%20-%20copie.jpg [Accessed: 20th November 2012].
24 Figure 9: Bauhaus Designers [Online] Available from: http://www.frenchart-deco.com/medias/biographie/49_J.ADNET%20-%20copie.jpg [Accessed: 20th November 2012].
Figure 10: Henri Clouzot [Online] Available from: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IHf6EHKZPIg/TNrZbM5m_QI/AAAAAAAAAB4/2KzcuxwMP9M/ s1600/18828679.jpg [Accessed: 20th November 2012].
Figure 11: Musee Galliera [Online] Available from: http://parisavant.com/images/musee%20galliera%202a.jpg [Accessed: 20th November 2012].
Figure 12: McLeod, M. (ed) (2003) Charlotte Perriand: an art of living. New York: Harry N. Abrams. p. 25, (Fig 5).
Figure 13: McLeod, M. (ed) (2003) Charlotte Perriand: an art of living. New York: Harry N. Abrams. p. 27, (Fig 8).
Figure 14: Bar under the roof [Online] Available from: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nm0ZwIuHvO0/TE2fOgmMC9I/AAAAAAAADXY/ uaQhMR9kjNA/s400/BarUnderRoof.jpg [Accessed: 20th November 2012].
Figure 15: Dining room [Online] Available from: http://blog.smow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Charlotte-Perriand-Paris-B-302-der- stuhl-stuttgart.jpg [Accessed: 22th November 2012].
25 Figure 16: Le Corbusier studio [Online] Available from: http://casabellablog.eu/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/lc1948-300x297.jpg [Accessed: 22th November 2012].
Figure 17: Le Corbusier with Charlotte Perriand [Online] Available from: http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/201203/22/54/c0058954_2150562.jpg [Accessed: 22th November 2012].
Figure 18: Swivel chair [Online] Available from: http://www.full-container.com/media/catalog/product/cache/5/image/1200x1200/9df78eab 33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/l/c/lc7-chair-inspired-by-charles-le-corbusier-01_1.jpg [Accessed: 22th November 2012].
Figure 19: Pull out tables [Online] Available from: http://modculture.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cbb069e20133f1fbce1d970b-800wi [Accessed: 22th November 2012].
Figure 20: Swivel stool [Online] Available from: http://dwr.scene7.com/is/image/DWR/PD_25757_MAIN?$main$ [Accessed: 22th November 2012].
Figure 21: Tabouret DE [Online] Available from: http://ilovedesignerfurniture.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tabouret1.jpg [Accessed: 22th November 2012].
26 Figure 22: Extendable table [Online] Available from: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJS0SnVF0Bk/Taz39-zpG2I/AAAAAAAAAhQ/TtBB3f21qrA/ s1600/Cassina_Ospite+01.jpg [Accessed: 22th November 2012].
Figure 23: Bedrooms [Online] Available from: http://static.art.sy/additional_images/506b3a5a0a43000002000e43/large.jpg [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 24: Dining rooms [Online] Available from: http://oliveryaphe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/EmmasDesign_Perriand.png [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 25: Kitchen [Online] Available from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scormeny/2604645885/ [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 26: Ski resort in Savoie [Online] Available from: http://www.residentialarchitect.com/Images/781185680_Charlotte%20Perriand%204_ tcm48-1280119.jpg [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 27: Refuge Barrel [Online] Available from: http://www.designboom.com/weblog/images/images_2/jayme/ton/ton05.jpg [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
27 Figure 28: French tourist office in London’s Piccadilly [Online] Available from: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2188/5762396113_40a7a246ba_z. jpg [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 29: Chaise-longue, bamboo [Online] Available from: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/garden/cassina-reworks-modernist- classics-for-outdoor-use.html [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 30: Museum of design in Zurich [Online] Available from: http://www.nomadpaper.com/map_zuri_files/img_mus_design.jpg [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 31: 526 Nuage [Online] Available from: http://www.parisdesignweek.fr/img/participants/uploads/181_1342435874_cassina_nuage_ bibliotheeque_murale_._charlotte_perriand_4_bd.jpg [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 32: Nuage Bibliothèque [Online] Available from: http://www.design-byproxy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/CHARLOTTE- PERRIAND-Nuage-Bibliothèque.jpg [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 33: Mid Mod [Online] Available from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.svpply.com/large/1358930.jpg?1350832279 [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
28 Figure 34: Console [Online] Available from: http://the189.com/design/exploring-the-life-and-works-of-charlotte-perriand/ [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 35: Bench [Online] Available from: http://the189.com/design/exploring-the-life-and-works-of-charlotte-perriand/ [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 36: Racks with 3 Plastic Drawers [Online] Available from: http://the189.com/design/exploring-the-life-and-works-of-charlotte-perriand/ [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 37: Coffee Table [Online] Available from: http://the189.com/design/exploring-the-life-and-works-of-charlotte-perriand/ [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 38: Free Shape Low Table [Online] Available from: http://the189.com/design/exploring-the-life-and-works-of-charlotte-perriand/ [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
Figure 39: Bench [Online] Available from: http://the189.com/design/exploring-the-life-and-works-of-charlotte-perriand/ [Accessed: 24th November 2012].
29 Ramin. J. (2006) Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999). [Online] Available from: http://www.sheffield.edu/htmlsrc/designspot0306.html [Accessed 19th November 2012]
McLeod, M. (ed) (2003) Charlotte Perriand: an art of living. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
Rüegg, A. (ed) (2004) Charlotte Perriand: livre de bord 1928-1933. Zurich: Birkhauser, Architecture.
Vernissage. (2010) Charlotte Perriand: Designer – Photographer – Activist / Museum für Gestaltung Zürich. [Online]. Available from: http:// vernissage.tv/blog/2010/07/28/charlotte-perriand-designer-photographer-activist-museum-fur-gestaltung-zurich/ [Accessed 19th November 2012]
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