Profile | Charlotte Perriand
"Better to spend a day in the sun than to spend it dusting our useless objects."
-Charlotte Perriand
Profile | Charlotte Perriand
"Better to spend a day in the sun than to spend it dusting our useless objects."
Charlotte Perriand
Today, we celebrate the birth of Charlotte Perriand (1903–1999), a pioneering force in modern design.
Trained at the École de l'Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs, the French architect and designer made a profound impact on the world of furniture and interiors with her innovative, machine-age aesthetic, despite initially being dismissed by Le Corbusier simply for being a woman.
Undeterred, Perriand gained recognition with her groundbreaking presentation at the Salon d'Automne the following year. Despite initial rejection by Le Corbusier due to her gender, Perriand became a central figure in his studio, co-designing iconic furniture pieces such as the LC4 Chaise Longue, LC2 Grand Confort, and LC7 Swivel Chair. She brought a humanist and functional sensibility to their work, softening the rigid rationalism of early modernism.
For Perriand, lighting was not merely decorative—it was a functional response to practical needs. Her minimalist philosophy is reflected in adaptable designs like the Applique à Volet Pivotant, Pivotant à Poser, and Pivotant Plié, all conceived to accommodate changing environments and uses.
In the 1930s and '40s, her practice expanded through collaborations with Jean Prouvé and involvement in social housing, as well as a formative period in Japan that deeply influenced her approach to materials and space. Perriand's work consistently emphasised functionality, modularity, and the integration of natural forms and local crafts.
Her later career saw large-scale architectural and interior projects, including work for Air France and the ski resort Les Arcs. Throughout her life, Perriand championed the idea that design should serve everyday life—a principle that continues to define her enduring legacy.
Discover Charlotte Perriand's designs here.
