Living with Charlotte Perriand: The Art of Living

Charlotte Perriand (24 October 1903 – 27 October 1999) was a French architect and designer. Her work aimed to create functional living spaces in the belief that better design helps in creating a better society. In her article “L’Art de Vivre” from 1981 she states, “The extension of the art of dwelling is the art of living ― living in harmony with man’s deepest drives and with his adopted or fabricated environment.” Charlotte liked to take her time in a space before starting the design process. Her approach to design includes taking in the site and appreciating it for what it is. Perriand connected with any site she was working with or just visiting she enjoyed the living things and would reminisce on a site that was presumed dead.

She is well known for the playful way in which she mixed and superposed materials and styles in most of the furniture she created during her career. Nonetheless, one of the most essential influence on her entire work has been the Japanese craftsmanship that kept on inspiring her.

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Living with Charlotte Perriand presents a catalogue of the great designer’s work, object by object. Her chairs, tables and bookshelves in all their different iterations are seen here both up close and "at home," as installed in the living spaces of collectors. Photographs of both historical and contemporary settings show how Perriand’s furniture stands the test of time and taste. Essays by François Laffanour and Cynthia Fleury provide a deeper insight into Perriand's work and retrace her life and collaboration with other great artists, designers and architects of her time, such as Le Corbusier and Jean Prouvé. Additionally, quotes from Perriand and the collectors who live with her designs are interspersed throughout the book.