Chairs are one of the fundamental products around people, and thus there are plenty of those in the market, referred to by Garner (1980, p.9), and there is a distinctive person who broadened such chair design. Charlotte Perriand (1903-99) has been known as a designer of ‘Iconic Modernist’-categorized interiors and furniture, according to Ellis (2000, p. 25). Also, Abercrombie (2004, p. 238) states about Perriand as saying that “We know Perriand best, of course, as Le Corbusier's associate and collaborator in furniture design”. As one of her masterpieces, The B306 Chaise Longue, which was made on 1928 in Paris, has attracted not only designers but also the public over nearly the century. Since the chair seems to have a lot of points to explore, this essay will focus on the real story including its design, production and use.
During the Modernist movement, the characteristic of design was defined as a self-conscious functionalism with a strong emphasis of new materials, described by Garner (1980, p.9). Abercrombie (2004, p. 38) mentions that Perriand made efforts on the design by following such Modernism with simplicity and vivid description through her life. Iovine (1999, p. 30) regards Perriand’s design works as excellence by her writing “though her tenure (1927-37) in Le Corbusier's studio was formative, her talent and clear modernist sensibilities were evident from her first installation”. It is additionally stated by Ledes (1998, p. 112) that Perriand became known with one of her work named “Bar sous le toit”, translated as ‘Bar Under the Roof’, in 1927, and such an event caused her to encounter Le Corbusier. Since that year till 1937, Perriand dealt with interior design with him. During the period of her working in Paris, Perriand developed three outstanding chairs with the collaboration with Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. The B306 Chaise Lounge is therefore one of those products, according to Ledes (1998, p. 112). Here is a visual reference of the work.
Through her work achievements with Corbusier, Perriand presented following phrase. ‘Metal plays the same part in furniture as cement has done in architecture. IT IS A REVOLUTION. If we use metal in conjunction with leather of chairs… we get a range of wonderful combinations and new aesthetic effects.’ This statement is supported by Garner (1980, p.113).
It is stated by Iovine (1999, p. 30) that Perriand had her focus towards the human with machine, equipment for living. The work “B306 Chaise Longue” is not excluded as an example of such an idea as well. On a website, it is also described that a steel tubular chair which is a symbol of the machine age. This chair was designed for the 1925 exhibition, and it includes adjustable chrome or matte black cradle and a matte black base, according to Ledes (1998, p.112). He also mentions that a black leather headrest, together with leather, pony skin, was utilized for the upholstery part. Benton (1998, p. 34) states that designing of this chair widened the mass-production idea in industrial processes. Also, through designing it, Perriand hit on ideas about using some more new materials, which has been used in current products making. For example, according to Benton (1998, p.34-35), she began to use some traditional materials such as bamboo.
http://www.dailytonic.com/milan-2011-tokyo-chaise-longue-by-charlotte-perriand-for-the-firsttime-in-production-by-cassina-it/
This product above, named ‘Tokyo’ (modeled by Italian manufacturer Cassina), is made with several types of wood such as bamboo, teak and beech. This fact is seen by a website. Those woods, especially bamboo has been said to be the material that Perriand encountered when she was engaging in craft works in Japan around 1940s. Additionally, it is possible to view that the chair could have a good combination with Japanese ordinary furniture (website). Therefore, it can be said that the B306 Chaise Longue has still had a lot of popularity with the public, stated by Ellis (2000, p. 25). Today, it has been released with the different materials to the original. Moreover, there are several effects that Perriand have caused in the chair design but also in some other product design. In the first place, Perriand’s challenge of using new materials triggered the development of Japanese craft production in later times. The theory was mentioned by Benton (1998, p. 32).
In conclusion, Charlotte Perriand is one of the most remarkable designers as a pioneer of industrial, interior design. And in particular, her work the 306 Chaise Longue has been the symbol of Modernist movement achievement and has affected current chair but also whole design industry as well. There is significance in terms of having great deal of followers, including manufacturers, designers and most importantly consumers who use the chair, such a simple and functional style. I feel that just saying about "making chair" is easy to process, but is much more difficult to do the production.
My view about designs became extended by doing lots of research about this assignment, and also found that I do need to consider deeply and deeply in order to design good products in every single moment so that my clients and consumers would satisfy
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