Among the designers active in the late 1950s, Pierre Paulin is unfortunately one of the least well-known , despite his ability to innovate and experiment with materials and techniques that were decidedly avant-garde for the time. Born in Paris on July 9, 1927, he trained first as a ceramist and then as a sculptor: it was precisely his innate ability to shape different forms and materials that became the common denominator of his pieces.
His essential and refined style is the result of a perfect synthesis of different movements—modernism, German rationalism, and Scandinavian design—and the influence of the work of his contemporaries , first and foremost the Eameses. His fame is mainly due to his fruitful collaboration, which lasted nearly 50 years, with the Dutch company Artifort , for which he designed several legendary chairs that have become true icons and are exhibited in the most important international museums.
Tongue Armchair, 1967, Artifort
Groovy armchair, 1970-1979, Artifort
In 1954 he began his collaboration with Thonet and designed the CM141 desk, re-edited and renamed Tanis, since 2008, by the French company Ligne Roset. The original design with its stark and extremely essential lines has been respected, while the finishes, such as walnut and Corian, have been revisited and made more contemporary.
Tanis desk, 1954, reissued by Ligne Roset in 2009
The different seats for Artifort demonstrate the importance the designer placed on ergonomics and attention to detail, considered fundamental and essential elements for the success of the project. At the heart of the design is not the form as an end in itself, but rather the design applied to functionality, focusing on comfort as a starting point..
Orange Slice, 1960, Artifort. Consisting of two identical shells, the armchair designed for Artifort invites anyone to sit as if they were inside a two-petaled flower. Available in various shades and printed fabrics, it has a timeless charm and clean lines. © Artifort.
Ribbon Chair, 1966, Artifort. Designed in 1965 and released the following year, the Ribbon Chair is one of the best-selling pieces of modernist design. Its sinuous, feminine lines evoke the image of a folded ribbon, and at first glance it almost appears to be a sculpture. © Hivemodern.
In the 70s Pierre Paulin was commissioned the furnishings of President George Pompidou's private apartments at the Elysée PalaceAmong the specially designed furnishings, we remember the series pumpkin – consisting of an armchair, footrest, and sofa – designed in 1971 and re-released by Lignet Roset in 2009. The upholstered furniture has extremely contemporary lines and its generous shapes, clearly organic in inspiration, adapt perfectly to the body.
Pumpkin Collection, Lignet Roset, 2009. Photo © Lignet Roset. Photo © Archiexpo.
Also the Elysée bookshop It was initially conceived for the president's residence and then re-proposed by Magis in 2009. A sort of house of cards where the modular curved wood structure adapts to any room in the house and leaves the user with extreme compositional freedom.
Elysée bookshop, 2009, Magis.
Elysée bookshop, 2009, Magis.
One of the latest projects is the Flower armchair, Designed in 2009 for Magis. Despite its vaguely retro feel, it features modern, minimalist lines, with a transparent polycarbonate frame decorated with vertical stripes. Designed for outdoor use but perfect for indoor use. Here too, Paulin demonstrates his interest in technological innovation, creating one of the first large-scale furnishing objects, injection-molded in a single piece.
Flower armchair, 2009, Magis. Photo © Architonic.
