PIASA will present at its next French Design auction, on January 28th 2021, some pieces representative of the design concept of Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999): furniture appropriate to its function, its architecture and accessible to all. While her period of collaboration with Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret nurtured the formation of these concepts, their application became more evident after the war, as illustrated by the pieces presented in this auction.
Charlotte Perriand's participation in the Brazzaville Housing Unit (1950-1952) was an important step in the mass production of storage space. In 1950, Air France placed an order for the construction of a building to house its staff in the capital of Congo with four architects - Hébrard, Lefebvre, Létu, Bienvenu - all disciples of Le Corbusier. Alongside them, Charlotte Perriand is in charge of the interior architecture and equipment.
Adept in the design of prefabricated modular furniture, she provides 10 to 15 m3 of storage space for each dwelling, then declines them in eight standardised models, which can be combined, depending on their destination: kitchen, bathroom, living room or bedroom. In this project, Charlotte Perriand truly takes the freedom to innovate by using contemporary techniques for the furniture. This programme also marks the beginning of her collaboration with Ateliers Jean Prouvé, since the latter are responsible for the manufacture of the folded sheet metal elements.
Among the key items on sale, Charlotte Perriand's Mexico library is estimated at €80,000 / €20,000. Designed in 1952 to furnish the university rooms of the Maison du Mexique in Paris, it is the result of Charlotte Perriand's research into storage. The invention of the metal-cheeked locker module, which she created as usual by successive approaches, represents one of the important moments in the history of design.
Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999)
Bookcase, 'Mexique'
Estimate: 80000 / 120000 €
Charlotte Perriand also applies her concept of design for all to leisure architecture. In 1946, for the winter sports resort of Méribel-les-Allues (1946-1948) commissioned by the English developer Peter Lindsay from the architects Paul Grillo and Christian Durupt, she designed the interior architecture and equipment, which were totally integrated into the architectural design. Its furniture is both sober and warm, rustic and functional like its container.
Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999)
Set of 4 chairs, 'Méribel'
Estimate: 3000 / 4000 €
Her passion for the mountains and the rural world led her to build her own chalet in the same valley in 1960. Far from the clichés of French luxury resorts, its architecture and furniture appear simple, practical, warm and intimate. In this convivial refuge open to the outside world, she thus invented a "modern Savoyard" style that blends tradition and modernity.
Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999)
Coffee table
Estimate: 5000 / 7000 €
This research and experiments in architecture and design for all resulted in a large-scale project, Les Arcs (1969-1989), a collective resort with a large accommodation capacity, one of the designer's latest creations.
