Charlotte Perriand

Résidence La Cascade, Arc 1600, 1967-1969

Christie's Paris, May 26, 2023, lot 50

Acquired from the above by the present owner

Jacques Barsac, Charlotte Perriand Complete Works, Volume 4, 1968-1999, Paris, 2019, pp. 102-103, 106-107, 109

Jacques Barsac, Charlotte Perriand: an Architect in the Mountains, Paris, 2023, pp. 168-169, 172-173, 175

La Cascade was the second building Charlotte Perriand constructed at the Résidence Les Arc, La Cascade Arc 1600 ski resort. Perriand embarked on the commission in 1967, which would keep her occupied for nearly twenty years until 1985. An an accomplished skier and mountaineer, Perriand prioritized seamless integration of the resort buildings with the surrounding landscape to preserve its natural beauty, while also efficiently meeting the residents’ practical needs.

Drawing inspiration from her time in Japan during the early 1940s, Perriand created interiors characterized by open-plan layouts or screen-divided spaces that maintained a fluid relationship between indoor and outdoor environments.

Her interiors showcased distinctive wooden furniture pieces - low built-in daybeds, dining chairs with gracefully curved backs and rush seats, and bars with free-form surfaces. These elements were complemented by enameled sheet-steel components in vibrant colors, creating a sophisticated material palette.

The present bench, which functions equally well as a console, exemplifies Perriand's modernist sensibility as applied to the "La Cascade" interiors. It demonstrates her exceptional talent for creating spaces that achieve both warmth and high functionality—a hallmark of her architectural philosophy.