DESIGN VISIONARY

CHARLOTTE PERRIAND

Recognised as one of the most important figures in 20th century design, Parisian Perriand grabbed her chance to lead the major ski resort project of Les Arcs. From 1967 to 1982, she worked in the Tarentaise region of the French Alps, an area she was particularly passionate about, focusing on minimalist design.

Her buildings, clustered together, looked outwards to create the feeling of natural open space, Perriand built Les Arcs following her own humanist principles, with functionality for the user being at the forefront of the design process. This included minimising the need for women to spend time on basic tasks such as cooking and cleaning — then revolutionary concepts. Bathroom cubicles were built as single blocks, kitchens were uniquely open plan and all the furniture was designed by Perriand herself. The recent retrospective at London’s Design Museum celebrated her life and work, from her unique creative process to her collaborative designs with Le Corbusier. designmuseum.org/exhibitions/ charlotte-perriand-the-modern-life