Charlotte Perriand Livres

In 1927, Charlotte Perriand, a twenty-four-year-old French designer, gained immediate recognition for her "Bar sous le toit" showcased at the Salon d'Automne in Paris. This project led to her collaboration with Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, where she oversaw the furniture and fittings program, contributing to iconic designs like the sculptural chaise longue and the grand confort chair. While her impact on modern design is well-documented, her adventurous life remains somewhat enigmatic. Her autobiography, published in France in 1998, serves as the first major English-language account of her career and personal journey. The text is direct and reflective of Perriand's character, complemented by numerous black-and-white photographs from her archive. Beyond her work with Le Corbusier, Perriand shares her experiences in Russia, the Far East, and South America, and details her projects after leaving the atelier in 1937, including a ski resort at Les Arcs and the "espace thé" in the UNESCO garden in Paris. Her friendships with notable artists like Fernand Léger provide insights into the artistic landscape of her time. Perriand's memoir offers a unique firsthand perspective on the goals of modern architecture and a century of life in Paris.