Pierre Gauriche

PIERRE GUARICHE (Paris, 1926-Bandol, France, 1995) for Airborne
3-seater sofa.
Manufactured by Maga under license.
Upholstery in subtly gridded blue fabric.
Metal frame.
Measurements: 74 x 180 x 70 cm.

Three-seater sofa designed by Pierre Gauriche for Airborne, combining sobriety and elegance. It rises on metal legs in an oblique position that lightens the furniture. The armrests have an irregular cutout that visually energizes the design, combined with right angles on the backrest and seats. It has a strong yet elegant look. The backrests are slightly inclined, responding to a comfortable design, since Gauriche studied human proportions to create ergonomic and functional pieces. The furniture is imbued with a timeless, yet modern patina.

Pierre Guariche was a French designer, interior decorator and architect best known for the residential lamps he designed for Pierre Disderot in the 1950s, but he was also an innovative furniture designer and architect. He studied at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs. He later joined the studio of another of his teachers, Marcel Gascoin. He began to exhibit his works at the Salon des Arts Ménagers and the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs, avant-garde places where the most prominent designers of the time showed their works. René-Jean Caillette, Joseph-André Motte, Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Antoine Philippon and Jacqueline Lecoq were some of the designers who exhibited their experimental works in the salons of the time. After World War II, interest in the use of new methods and materials for the mass production of furniture increased. In 1951, Guariche began collaborating with Steiner, another important furniture manufacturer. He designed the innovative "Tonneau" chair, with a plastic and aluminum version in 1953 and a curved plywood version in 1954. At the same time, Guariche made numerous models for lighting manufacturer Pierre Disderot, seeking a modern, simple and economical alternative to the opulence of traditional French designs.