This groundbreaking and comprehensive monograph on Charlotte Perriand celebrates one of the most influential designers and architects of the 20th century-and reveals the striking relevance of her work today. Featuring newly translated manifestos written over five decades, original research, and previously unpublished material from her archive in Paris, this book presents a portrait of a visionary who imagined living spaces beyond geographic, political, and temporal boundaries. From her collaboration with Le Corbusier to the landmark alpine architecture Les Arcs, it becomes clear how Perriand drew on cultural traditions and technological innovation to understand design as a social mission. Her legacy stands for commitment, ecological responsibility, and a deep belief in the potential of design in shaping a better future.
Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999) was a trailblazing French architect and designer who significantly influenced modern furniture and interiors. Guided by a humanistic philosophy that intertwined people, nature, and art, she championed social progress through designs that were both functional and beautiful. Always navigating the balance between tradition and innovation, industry and nature, her visionary approach to practical, forward-thinking living spaces continues to inspire generations of creatives worldwide.
How do we want to live? And how can spaces shape a better life?
The exhibition catalogue
Charlotte Perriand: The Art of Dwelling
is dedicated to one of the most influential designers and architects of the twentieth century, highlighting the enduring relevance of her ideas today.
Charlotte Perriand profoundly shaped modern living. For her, design was never merely a matter of form, but a social responsibility: spaces should foster freedom, community, and harmony with nature. Her furniture, interiors, and architectural projects combine functionality, aesthetic clarity, and social commitment-long before sustainability became a defining concept.
At a glance:
- Generously illustrated survey of furniture, architecture, and visionary housing concepts
- A timely perspective on sustainable and socially responsible design
- Published to accompany the major retrospective at Kunstmuseen Krefeld, Museum der Moderne Salzburg, and Fundació Joan Miró
From her early collaboration with Le Corbusier and her iconic tubular steel furniture to innovative interwar housing models and the visionary alpine project
Les Arcs
, the book traces the many facets of Perriand's oeuvre. Photographs, original pieces, sketches, and reconstructed interiors bring her work vividly to life.
More than an exhibition catalogue, this first monograph in 20 years offers fresh perspectives on a designer whose thinking continues to resonate today.
Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999) was a trailblazing French architect and designer who significantly influenced modern furniture and interiors. Guided by a humanistic philosophy that intertwined people, nature, and art, she championed social progress through designs that were both functional and beautiful. Always navigating the balance between tradition and innovation, industry and nature, her visionary approach to practical, forward-thinking living spaces continues to inspire generations of creatives worldwide.
