An essentiality built on the French tradition of interior decoration, reinterpreted with contemporary elements, influenced by Japanese precision and the light of the tropics. I am excited and a bit stressed to the result of the new creative direction." He had an incredible point of view that was distinctively his own. Among them, a large apartment for Rupert Murdoch, who wanted an apartment like The Mercer Hotel (as Liaigre said). Sent every Thursday and featuring a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. The right word may be essentiality. With 28 showrooms in the world today and a wealth of projectsfrom luxury homes and yacht design to exciting new hotel and restaurant openingsunder the 35-year Liaigre belt, there was no shortage of pressure for the label to continue its legacy following the departure of its visionary founder in 2017. Sitemap. "When Christian Liaigre decided to step back in 2016, he left a strong heritage with a mythical aura," explains Meyer. With a palpable increased vigor under the creative direction of Christian's longtime protge, Frauke Meyer (Christians wife, Dborah Comte-Liaigre, remains as artistic director of the company's interior design service), the brand's ethos remains unchanged, though infused with new energy. His furniture was so refined, so beautiful and so well made, Mr. Schrager said. Liaigre was known for his clean aesthetic vocabulary at a time when bodacious designs were in vogue. Initially, the late designer only made furnishings but soon went on to develop entire interiors for residences, holiday homes, offices, as well as the cabins of jets and yachts. He was such a visionary. Already in the project for Hotel Montalembert he showed his ability to combine different sources of inspiration and transform them into an immediately recognizable style. Liaigre: Creation 2016-2020 By Beda Achermann and Frauke Meyer, with text by Franoise-Claire Prodhon. To me, he was the best and most talented designer in the world." The clients still cherish them to this day. "We should hold the mirror to ourselves" say Turkish John Heah designs Clinique La Prairie resort for Amaala in Adjaye Associates unveils Abrahamic Family House interfaith Heatherwick Studio designs Tokyo school with "playgrounds Smith Mordak named CEO of UK Green Building Council at Michael Gove places Populous' spherical music venue on hold, Visit our comments page | Read our Tim Veresnovsky, interior designer, He came into my life after seeing his work in the pages of Elle Decor in the late 90s. To have people respond to your work like that? Charles Curkin is ELLE Decor's Articles Editor, covering everything related to the architecture, interior design, real estate, and travel industries, and has previously written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Paris Review. After Christian Liaigre left the eponymous design house that he founded in the 1980s, the company forged ahead on its luxury path. Promoting his long-time collaborator and associate Frauke Meyer in 2014 as the creative director of the studio, Liaigre parted ways with the firm in 2016 to take time to himself and his wife and son. "He was such a visionary. Since then, hes been a great source of inspiration to me, not only as a creative mind but also as an overall stylish yet humble human being.. Built vs. Human Dimensions: Coexistence or Conflict? ! From that moment forward I kept an eye on Christian Liaigre who became a seismic influence in the world of interior design. Employing clean lines and natural materials throughout each of his projects, Liaigre's style was seen as particularly unusual when he emerged in the 1980s. Wendi and Rupert Murdoch commissioned Mr. Liaigre to design their triplex in SoHo after seeing his rooms at the Mercer hotel. This is a huge loss for our community. Sheila Bridges, interior designer, Christians passing is such a loss for the world of design. 4, 2020. Liaigres rooms were graphic and confident, minimal but not anemic. We all still look up to him and thank him for his stewardship and understanding of whats importantand above all whats human. Lee F. Mindel, architect and interior designer, Liaigre is somewhere in the ether of our heroes at McMillenup there with Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand. In 1997, he designed The Mercer Hotel in New York City. For the superyacht industry, Liaigre was behind the designs for yachts such as the 33-metre La Fenice in 1962, the Perini Navi sailing yacht Roseheartyand the award-winning 67.2-metreVertigo.The French design studio is keeping the consistently bespoke Liaigre style alive, as seen onboard more recent yachts such as the 58-metre Feadship yacht Najiba and the in-build Royal Huisman project 404. Designer Christian Liaigre trained initially as a painter studying fine arts, before becoming a furniture-maker and interior designer. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. Ad Choices, How Legendary French Brand Christian Liaigre Is Keeping Things Fresh, With all eyes on the new Madison Avenue showroom, due to open this summer, its exciting times ahead for the French interiors brand, Jeremiah Brent Makes Hospitality Debut, Coil + Drift Moves Upstate, and More News. Lee F. Mindel, the New York-based architect wrote, Never distracted by pyrotechnics, he created spaces and the components of spaces that stand the test of time. ", Christophe Caillaud, Liaigre's CEO, adds: "An eponymous brand necessarily identifies with its creator or founder. Designer Ronan Bouroullec recalled meeting Liaigre at L'ecole des Arts Dcoratifs and him showing interest in one of Bouroullec's early furniture models. In this weekly roundup, AD PRO has everything you need to know. 2023 Design Diffusion. Give us a few seconds and try loading this page again. Our website, archdigest.com, offers constant original coverage of the interior design and architecture worlds, new shops and products, travel destinations, art and cultural events, celebrity style, and high-end real estate as well as access to print features and images from the AD archives. Christian Liaigre, who fashioned homes for the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Calvin Klein, has passed away at the age of 77. His preference to work largely with private clients is clear because he had few public-facing projects. His work resonated with craftsmen and architects, too, because the joinery was often the ornament. What will the architectural practices be like in 2050? I took the first check I received from my first design job and bought a tiny bronze Liaigre drinks table. I took the first check I received from my first design job and bought a tiny bronze Liaigre drinks table. Meyer and the studio under her creative leadership have been faithful to the pure spirit characteristic of Liaigre. You will shortly receive a welcome email so please check your inbox. A guru in modern minimalism, Liaigres perfectly proportioned designs led to the likes of Larry Gagosian, Bryan Adams, and Karl Lagerfeld seeking him out while on the quest for original, high-quality, French craft furniture. Some days ago, Christian Liaigre, a master of interior design who left an indelible mark on contemporary design, passed away. The spaces he created are a wonderful gift. Kelly Behun, interior designer, His interiors inspired a generation of designers, myself included. 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I was always inspired by his warm style and the way he could balance designs that were equally understated and impactful. Moreover, the overall impression consisted in extremely simple shapes that let materials define the surfaces. A key feature in the Madison Avenue store is the Design Servicea bespoke decoration service that provides tailored solutions for complete interiors or specific areas like dressing rooms, libraries, studies, and so on. Someone formidable," Bouroullec wrote in a comment. This was also the case for The Mercer Hotel in New York, the hotel that made Andr Balazs famous (who relaunched the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles and launched The Standard Hotel in several cities) and was a turning point for the hospitality sector worldwide. He kind of invented the boutique hotelright after its actual inventionor at least took it from something rock n roll into territory that was more romantic and intimate. The Wall Street Journal described Liaigre as a "great minimalist". (By the late 1990s, wenge wood, his signature material, had been knocked off so often that it became a design-world punch line.). Unfortunately, it will not be possible. Like many of us, Liaigres living room table often doubled as his work areaa place where masterpieces were created. Visit the SuperYacht Times online shop to view and order the latest market reports and newspaper issues. Christian Liaigre, who fashioned homes for the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Calvin Klein, has passed away at the age of 77. Plus occasional news. A must-visit in Paris, the new showroom opens in fall 2018 and will showcase the brand's newfound eclecticism. Christian Liaigre is something of a legend in the world of French design. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of every newsletter. His dark, low-slung wenge-wood furniture, and his clean-lined linen sofas in white and pale lavender, were soon copied ad infinitum; for decades they would influence trendy hotel interiors, pricey condo developments and furniture emporiums like West Elm and Restoration Hardware. . Thank you, Christian. Said Wendi Murdoch. The French creative and founder of design studio Liaigre died on. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. The living room of Rupert Murdochs New York City loft designed by Christian Liaigre. Frauke Meyer, creative director of Christian Liaigre. Known for his muscular and clean-lined furniture, Mr. Liaigre designed the influential Mercer hotel in SoHo, as well as the homes of Rupert Murdoch and others. In my first commission, I remember being excited to use a few of his meticulously crafted, stylish pieces. We all still look up to him and thank him for his stewardship and understanding of whats importantand above all, whats human., Vincent Van Duysen, the Belgian architect, celebrated the life of Liaigre on Instagram, revealing he had been a fan of the late designers work since the end of the 80s. He could take the most humble piece of furniture like a bench, stool or hook and elevate itnot by embellishing, but by whittling it down to its essence Rayman Boozer, interior designer, On a trip to Paris in 1992, I happened on the Hotel Montalembert and thought, who is this designer? He had an incredible point of view that was distinctively his own. African sculptures next to Louis XV furniture, the neutrality of the architecture., He added, People were beguiled by that hotel.. If so, I surely never saw it. Everything about him exuded a beautiful restraint and elegance and he made it all look easy. Hardcover. Christian Liaigre Dark Brown Christian Liaigre Pirogue Bench for Holly Hunt, Pair Available H 14 in W 70 in D 14 in $ 8,908 Access Trade Price. The showroom opens in June 2018 and will present classic pieces of furniture alongside new designs shown in the US for the first time. Never distracted by pyrotechnics, he created spaces and the components of spaces that stand the test of time. "His taste and style was unmatched and his refined simplicity and elegance stood above everybody else. Legendary French designer Christian Liaigre has died. In the 1980s, his aesthetic was synonymous with easy, timeless style: architectural elegance, generous proportions, solid wood, bold designall swathed in sumptuous materials like marble and cashmere. Christian Liaigre was born on Aug. 10, 1943, in La Rochelle, France. Of the handful of maritime projects he has completed so far, Vertigo, the 67 metre ketch built by Alloy Yachts and launched in 2011, has won four prestigious prizes, among . "Christian Liaigre preferred to let his designs speak for themselves," said Liaigre's studio in a statement. Hotelier Ian Schrager also commented, The world is less without him. In London, there's the glamorous Imperial Treasure restaurant opening in Waterloo Place: think soaring backlit alabaster walls and a theatrical East-West mood; in Paris theres the much-anticipated new flagship that sees the brand shifting from its home in St. Germain to the new scene on rue du Faubourg Saint Honor, right opposite the Hotel Bristol; and in New York, the label is welcoming its second showroom in Chelsea on Madison Avenue. Tim Veresnovsky, interior designer, He came into my life after seeing his work in the pages of Elle Decor in the late 90s. Like many of us, Liaigres living room table often doubled as his work areaa place where masterpieces were created. The clients still cherish them to this day. We will miss him and his genius, but his work will endure far beyond his lifetime. He cared so about the details, high quality materials, and craftsmanship. The Hotel Montalembert was like a revelation. Boards; Inquire; Christian Liaigre Nickel plated Bronze reading light by . Can you sue for mesothelioma Top Lawyer Advice? "The world is less without him. We all still look up to him and thank him for his stewardship and understanding of whats importantand above all whats human. Lee F. Mindel, architect and interior designer, Liaigre made those ubiquitous 7-foot sofas seem silly. A $77-Million Les Lalanne Auction Breaks Records, AD PROs Essential Guide to Maison & Objet 2023, Off to Paris? 2023 Cond Nast. Ernest de la Torre, interior designer, Just like when you see a Rolls Royce drive down the street, you could look at his work and immediately identify it as Liaigre. Thank you, Christian." He was such a visionary. Mr. Pawson remembered meeting Mr. Liaigre just once in a chance encounter at the Mercer. The simple lines and geometry of his iconic furniture pieces and the rich palettes of bronze, beige, and grey which flooded the rooms he created are an inspiration. Christian Liaigre was truly one of the greatest. There is only Christian and no one else., Remembering Christian Liaigre, Elle Decor ran an article with many close friends and interior design luminaries expressed their tribute to him. My responsibility today as creative director is to ensure we respect and remain faithful to this desirable heritage while ensuring our creation reflects and embodies the movement and spirit of our time.". Christian's departure allowed a constructive work on the brandits roots, its influences, and dynamics. Daily updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. It evokes an annular coral reef of the warm seas, enclosing a lagoon communicating with the open sea. It's a banana. The dining room at Christian Liaigres home on St. Barts. [11][12], cole nationale suprieure des Beaux-Arts, cole nationale suprieure des arts dcoratifs, "Christian Liaigre veut imposer son style au niveau international", "Legendary French Minimalist Designer Christian Liaigre Dies at 77", "A French Urban Planner's Furniture Collection for Holly Hunt", "Powerhouse Design Duo Pulls Off a Major Dallas Coup", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christian_Liaigre&oldid=1105004862, This page was last edited on 18 August 2022, at 01:05. French interior design legend and entrepreneur Christian Liaigre, known for his romantic minimalist aesthetic and whose clients included Larry Gagosian, Calvin Klein, and Karl Lagerfeld, has. Everything he created was stunningly understated, but his use of luxurious, natural materials and sense of proportion made his spaces romantic and impactful. Both men were up early for breakfast. It's art. "His will was to prepare the future of the eponymous house he had successfully created 35 years earlier and allowed to turn toward new challenges and evolutions of our time. If so, I surely never saw it. Christian Liaigre preferred to let his designs speak for themselves, said Liaigres studio on their Instagram post, adding, He created furniture and objects that reflected his dedication to beauty, a search for balance, and accuracy for proportions and perfection in detail., His origins, his background, and his passion for riding horses and the equestrian world were shown through a simple and fluidic design style enhanced by the high quality of his favorite materials: wood, leather, and bronze.. Strong, minimal, and with both form and material thoughtfully considered, the lamp is a functional sculpture. Some days ago, Christian Liaigre, a master of interior design who left an indelible mark on contemporary design, passed away. He understood the dignity of the design process and the responsibility of designers, architects, and craftspeople to keep evolving. Jeffrey Bilhuber, interior designer, "Christian was a dear friend and a lovely soul with incredible taste. When he retired in 2016, he handed the reins over to long-term . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Christian Liaigre, born in 1943 in La Rochelle, a seaport city in southwestern France, studied at the. Christian Liaigre wants to have it both ways. At that time, boutique hotels, as pioneered by Mr. Schrager, were over-the-top theaters, designed most notably by Philippe Starck and Andre Putman. French interior design legend and entrepreneur .css-mnv24j{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;background-image:linear-gradient( to bottom, rgba(55, 119, 188, 0.2), rgba(55, 119, 188, 0.2) );-webkit-background-position:0 100%;background-position:0 100%;background-repeat:repeat-x;-webkit-background-size:0 0;background-size:0 0;padding-top:0.05rem;padding-bottom:0.05rem;}.css-mnv24j:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-size:.625rem 3.125rem;background-size:.625rem 3.125rem;}Christian Liaigre, known for his romantic minimalist aesthetic and whose clients included Larry Gagosian, Calvin Klein, and Karl Lagerfeld, has died at age 77. The Mercer, which Andr Balazs opened in 1997, introduced Mr. Liaigre to the United States. Great attention to details was placed in all of his designs. Juan Montoya, interior designer, I will never forget, in the early 90s, going into Christian Liagres shop in Paris and visiting the Hotel Montalembert. We asked design-world luminaries to share their thoughts of Liaigre and the legacy he left behind. Asked what she is most looking forward to in 2018, Meyer replies: "For me, it is the Liaigre flagship store. It was a complete aesthetic, and I dont think anyone did it better, Mr. Klein said in a phone interview. Liaigre established his eponymous studio in 1985 and opened the doors to his first showroom on Rue de Varenne in Paris' seventh arrondissement. To say that he was detail-oriented would be a gross understatement, Mr. Balazs of the Mercer wrote in an Instagram post. Beyond the architecture and interiors, there's a vast repertoire of furniture that includes iconic pieces like the ever-popular Nagato stool. They simply redefined a new idea of simplicity in design. At 77 years old, Liaigre had dedicated his life to building an influential career in the design world and had established a notable clientele base which included Calvin Klein and Karl Lagerfeld. Our most popular newsletter, formerly known as Dezeen Weekly. His father was a veterinarian, and his grandfather bred horses. Christian Liaigre, a French interior and furniture designer whose muscular and elegant objects in wood, bronze and leather were emblematic of 1990s minimalism, and whose influential clients included Karl Lagerfeld, Calvin Klein, Rupert Murdoch, Larry Gagosian and the Mercer hotel in SoHo, died Sept. 2 in Paris. He believes architecture is all-inclusive and personal. His artistic background is evident in the power of his designs, finding its way into the color, shape and texture of everything from cushions to chaise longues. Hotelier Ian Schrager also commented, "there is only Christian [Liaigre] and no one else". There was no one like him; he was a pioneer with his elegant, refined all encompassing style. Mark Cunningham, interior designer, I remember the first time I saw his Chantecaille floor lamp and was caught off guard by its beauty. Liaigre initially started making furniture and then gradually designed entire interiors for holiday homes, residences, and even interiors of private jets and yachts. Iris Brosch. $7532. The Liaigre showrooms which showcase the brand are located in the United States, Europe and Asia. Discrete, Christian Liaigre preferred let his designs speak for themselves: he created furniture and objects that reflected his dedication to beauty, a search for balance, an accuracy for proportions and perfection in the detail. His design firm, Liaigre, announced his death on Instagram without specifying the cause. Decades earlier, Mr. Owens had interviewed Mr. Liaigre about how his upbringing had influenced his work. Over the last thirty years Christian Liaigre has made himself known by his refined, high quality work. Sahil Tanveer is an architect and thinker, who runs a cosmopolitan Architecture studio with work across the country. For more details, please see our privacy notice. Did he ever misstep aesthetically? He was a true original and a star. Joy Moyler, interior designer, Its the end of an era. And all his projects shared a simplicity curated down to the last detail, a material research ranging from local woods to bronze, up to fine marbles, a palette including endless shades of neutral colors. Someone formidable. Bouroullec recalled meeting Liaigre at Lecole des Arts Dcoratifs where Liaigre showed interest in one of his early furniture models. [9] He died on 2 September 2020 at the age of 77. There was no one like him; he was a pioneer with his elegant, refined all encompassing style. Mark Cunningham, interior designer, I remember the first time I saw his Chantecaille floor lamp and was caught off guard by its beauty. The spaces he created are a wonderful gift. Kelly Behun, interior designer, His interiors inspired a generation of designers, myself included. Set up as a Parisian home with an exhibition space at the top, it breaks away from the belief that Liaigre is without dare or risk. From the creation of his first furniture pieces, he quickly moved onto interior design, reconnecting with the French . We will miss him and his genius but his work will endure far beyond his lifetime. Theres nothing more you can ask for as a designer. David Netto, interior designer, On a trip to Paris in 1992, I happened on the Hotel Montalembert and thought, who is this designer? Wendi Murdoch, entrepreneur and client, Christian Liaigre marched to his own drum creating a seamlessly integrated environment that was both minimal and enriched at the same time. Christian worked for his grandfather for a decade after attending the cole des Beaux-Arts and the cole Nationale Suprieure des Arts Dcoratifs in Paris. The living room features chairs, stools, lamps and tables by furniture designer Christian Liaigre is photographed for Los Angeles Times on January. There was always a sense of place, strong narrative, as well as a feeling of playfulness and of joy. Oliver M. Furth, interior designerChristian was one of those people who was innately chic. Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know. I did not know him personally, though I pay tribute to the great artist he was. Pierre Yovanovitch, interior designer, Theres a stillness to his aesthetic thats welcoming and warm and his le de R residence captivates me most. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. The first boutique hotel on the Rive Gauche, Paris, Hotel Montalembert represents an important chapter in the history of interior architecture between 1980 and 1990. As a designer I have always been inspired by his work and loved incorporating his thoughtfully modern and timeless designs into many of the residential spaces I have designed. We were the only ones in the room, Mr. Pawson said by email from his home on the island of Majorca in Spain. Christian Liaigre, who fashioned homes for the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Calvin Klein, has passed away at the age of 77. In a time when chaos reigns, we crave interiors that make us feel calm and balanced. As stated on their website, Liaigres studio, under the leadership of CEO Christophe Caillaud and creative director Frauke Meyer, enters a new era and continues to design luxury homes, ships, and yachts in Europe, USA, Asia, and around the world. Christian Liaigre led his interior design studio for 35 years, creating homes for the likes of Calvin Klein and Karl Lagerfeld. And now it's the Guggenheim's problem. All rights reserved, L&L Luce & Light illuminates the Munch Museum in Oslo. More recently, Liaigre decorated other hotels in New York: the Edition Hotel and the Public Hotel, owned by Ian Schrager (also owner of Royalton, Paramount, Gramercy Park). In-stock we have 1 vintage editions of these items, while there is also 0 modern edition to . Best known for fashioning the houses of legends such as Karl . His sparse interiors and elegant if unadorned furniture exemplified 1990s minimalism.