The designer in 1934. Credit...Archives Charlotte Perriand 2013
Le Corbusier “[doesn’t] embroider cushions” and that’s why he didn’t hire French architect Charlotte Perriand when she initially interviewed in 1927. But after she gained traction through exhibitions including at the Salon d’Atuomne, he changed his tune and offered her a job.
Charlotte Perriand believed that design could change society and that better design could create better futures. She is known for seamlessly merging elegance and style with functionality. And historians have posited that she brought a human element to the very modern work of Le Corbusier and her other collaborators.
Perriand was instrumental in the design of one of Le Corbusier’s most famous chairs, the LC2 Petit Modele Armchair.
"corb" by Peter Guthrie is licensed with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
On the foundation website of Le Corbusier, about half of the designs Charlotte Perriand designed don’t give her credit. Perhaps one reason you might not have heard of her before today.
"corb_recliner" by eversion is licensed with CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
For those who do know her name, however, it’s most likely in connection with Le Corbusier. Additionally, Perriand worked directly with craft materials and techniques including in the Chaise Lounger (1940) and Synthese des Arts Chair (1955).
1940_ Chaise Longue Wooden Folding Chair Transformable Chair by Charlotte Perriand
"Charlotte Perriand et Le Corbusier (Musée des arts décoratifs, Paris)" by dalbera is licensed with CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
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