Paulin
designer (1927 - 2009)
Pierre Paulin is a French furniture and interior designer, born in Paris in 1927. He studied ceramics in Vallaurius on the French Riviera, and then stonemasonry in Burgundy. Due to a right arm injury, he was forced to abandon his dreams of becoming a sculptor.
He later attended the École Camondo in Paris for interior design and architecture.
He worked for the Gascoin company in Le Havre, where he developed an interest in Scandinavian and Japanese design. He rose to fame for his innovative work with Artifort in the 1960s, where he created iconic pieces such as the Mushroom, Ribbon, and Groovye armchairs, and for interior design in the 1970s.
His seating designs were extremely modern and unique for their time, achieving great success. His pieces are still made today by Artifort and are sought-after at auction.
Paulin stands out for his innovative use of materials such as foams and stretch coverings on lightweight structures, producing comfortable seating with soft, rounded shapes and vibrant colors.
Over the course of his career, he also worked as an interior designer for important French institutional spaces, such as the private apartments of the Elysée Palace and the office of François Mitterrand. He is recognized for combining functionality and aesthetic innovation, with an approach that places comfort at the center of form. His legacy remains highly influential in contemporary design today.
Pierre Paulin's products include:
Mushroom - a chair with an organic mushroom-like silhouette, 1959, exhibited in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
Tulip Collection - a series of seats designed by Pierre Paulin, 1960.
Tongue - a lounge chair, 1967.
Orange Slice - a sculptural armchair, 1969, composed of two curved elements.
Ribbon Chair - seat with tubular metal frame and stretch fabric upholstery, 1966.
Groovy - armchair designed by Pierre Paulin, 1972.
Pierre Paulin died on June 13, 2009, in a hospital in Montpellier, France. French President Sarkozy celebrated him as "the man who made design an art." In November 2009, Paulin was awarded the distinction of "Royal Designer for Industry" (RDI).
