The dining room at Christian Liaigres home on St. Barts. You walked in and saw the possibility of how to decorate that hadnt been around since the 1930s. 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. Related story Five luxury villas around the world by French interiors studio Liaigre. Former employees described Mr. Liaigre as a quiet, meticulous teacher whose drawings were always perfectly to scale. Exciting times, indeed. My family is fortunate to live in a home he designed everyday. 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. OGS Capital Reviews On Aspects To Consider While Starting A New Business: Check Out These Excellent U.S. Art Galleries, Art Director: Juan Jos Seplveda Ramrez. Hotelier Ian Schrager also commented, The world is less without him. Liaigre believed that interior architecture and design should not depend on the latest fads and trends but embody timelessness, tranquil beauty, and subtle luxury. Some days ago, Christian Liaigre, a master of interior design who left an indelible mark on contemporary design, passed away. Someone formidable," Bouroullec wrote in a comment. If so, I surely never saw it. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. FREE international delivery. Liaigres work had a butchness to it, he added. Best known for fashioning the houses of legends such as Karl . We will only use your email address to send you the newsletters you have requested. Liaigres rooms were graphic and confident, minimal but not anemic. And he certainly made our ubiquitous seven-foot-sofas seem silly. Ann Pyne (McMillen, Inc.), interior designer, Christian Liaigre was one of those incredibly rare talents who made me want to be a designer. We will miss him and his genius but his work will endure far beyond his lifetime. For more details, please see our privacy notice. This week we kicked off the Timber Revolution, Uruguayan architect Rafael Violy dies aged 78. Her interiors reflect both a rigorous design and special consideration for functions. Wendi and Rupert Murdoch commissioned Mr. Liaigre to design their triplex in SoHo after seeing his rooms at the Mercer hotel. The most famous are those of the Maldives, Tuamotu, Kiribati, Bikini. They simply redefined a new idea of simplicity in design. It is not easy to explain why his projects were so special, especially when seen from 2020. But his love for horses took him to his grandfather to help him breed racehorses. He was 77. 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. Our most popular newsletter, formerly known as Dezeen Weekly. What a gem he was. Chanae Richards, interior designer, Although widely known for his hospitality design, Christian Liaigre was among the most influential and widely copied designers of furniture and residential interiors of the 20th century. "He was so gentle, so simple and nice with me. "His luxurious no-frill designs impressed a demanding international clientele on a quest for authenticity.". Christian Liaigre was truly one of the greatest. Im proud to say I was very inspired by him because he never did one thing that didnt move design forward somehow, a lot or a little. 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. Only 9 left in stock - order soon. 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? His work has always been an inspiration to me. Like many of us, Liaigres living room table often doubled as his work areaa place where masterpieces were created. "He created furniture and objects that reflected his dedication to beauty, a search for balance, an accuracy for proportions and perfection in the detail," added the studio. Christian Liaigre benches are available for sale on 1stDibs. 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. Christian's departure allowed a constructive work on the brandits roots, its influences, and dynamics. His daughter, Virginie, died last year. Strong, minimal, and with both form and material thoughtfully considered, the lamp is a functional sculpture. Along with the austere architecture of John Pawson and the unadorned clothing of Mr. Klein and Helmut Lang, Mr. Liaigres works sculptural tables, seats and lamps constructed of bronze, stone and ebonized woods were touchstones for a generation that expressed its wealth in earth tones and a monkish lack of ornament. "This high demand is something we will keep, whilst introducing a freshness and freedom that has a more relaxed approach. (By the late 1990s, wenge wood, his signature material, had been knocked off so often that it became a design-world punch line.). This designer of some of the world's most beautiful rooms in penthouses, villas and, increasingly, mansion-sized yachts has developed a visual vocabulary, mostly expressed in his own furniture and fixtures, that makes every one of his interiors immediately identifiable as a Liaigre.And yet, he asserts that each is rooted in its particular . Although public spaces were not the most important part of his work (or perhaps because of that), Liaigre left an important mark on hotels. Through precise use of space and light, basing his design on local cultures and traditions, choice of materials and a special love of art and crafts, Christian Liaigre has managed to combine certain modesty with great elegance. Sent every Tuesday and containing a selection of the most important news highlights. At the end of the Eighties, neither boutique hotels nor hotels with home-like interior design were so popular. He was such a visionary. Before working on the Mercer, Mr. Liaigre had designed the interiors of the Hotel Montalembert in Paris, a boutique hotel built in the 1920s and redone in 1990. Designer Christian Liaigre trained initially as a painter studying fine arts, before becoming a furniture-maker and interior designer. The functionality and simplicity are enhanced by the cabinetmaker and saddler using his traditional knowledge, reflecting the comfort and subtle elegance of a masculine world. Still chic and sleek, but much more personal. Privacy Policy. Among them, a large apartment for Rupert Murdoch, who wanted an apartment like The Mercer Hotel (as Liaigre said). The creative director and founder of the design studio Liaigre, in his 35 years of work, designed homes for icons like Rupert Murdoch and Calvin Klein. Designer Ronan Bouroullec commented, He was so gentle, so simple and nice with me. His work resonated with craftsmen and architects, too, because the joinery was often the ornament. The lobby of the Mercer in SoHo, which introduced Mr. Liaigre to the United States when it opened in 1997. introduced Mr. Liaigre to the United States. Meyer and the studio under her creative leadership have been faithful to the pure spirit characteristic of Liaigre. Architectural Photography Competition 2020 Results, Architectural Photography Competition 2019 Finalists, Perfect Guide to Architecting Your Career. Theres nothing more you can ask for as a designer. David Netto, interior designer, Liaigre was the epitome of sophisticated simplicity. Christian Liaigre, born in 1943 in La Rochelle, a seaport city in southwestern France, studied at the cole des Beaux-Arts and the cole des arts dcoratifs. Tim Veresnovsky, interior designer, He came into my life after seeing his work in the pages of Elle Decor in the late 90s. In Liagres projects, simplicity and essentiality do not mean minimalism. 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 had an incredible point of view that was distinctively his own. What was so special about the interiors of Hotel Montalembert, then? 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. 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. Schrager continued. He was such a visionary. 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. 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. His furniture was so refined, so beautiful and so well made, Mr. Schrager said. Christian Liaigre was truly one of the greatest. He died on Wednesday 2 September and Liaigres studio took to Instagram to announce the passing. I always thought of him as our generations Jean-Michel Frank and I have no doubt his legacy will live on for generations to come. Brad Ford, interior designer, Theres a stillness to his aesthetic thats welcoming and warm and his le de R residence captivates me most. 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. The iconic French designer has died at age 77. Beyond the architecture and interiors, there's a vast repertoire of furniture that includes iconic pieces like the ever-popular Nagato stool. 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 clients included Karl Lagerfeld, Calvin Klein, Rupert Murdoch and the Mercer hotel in SoHo, died on Sept. 2 in Paris. Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know. 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. News about our Dezeen Awards programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. In 1988, Christian Liaigre designed the Hotel Montalembert in Paris. 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). It could not be taught. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. ! From that moment forward I kept an eye on Christian Liaigre who became a seismic influence in the world of interior design. Biography [ edit] Born into a family from Vende, Liaigre entered the cole nationale suprieure des Beaux-Arts and the cole nationale suprieure des arts dcoratifs before meeting Alberto Giacometti. "When Christian Liaigre decided to step back in 2016, he left a strong heritage with a mythical aura," explains Meyer. To have people respond to your work like that? 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. To me, he was the best and most talented designer in the world. Adding, His taste and style was unmatched, and his refined simplicity and elegance stood above everybody else. Ex: Diadem of Dewlish, Diadem of Patty, Bettina, and Aunis, Design icon Christian Liaigre dies aged 77. Liaigre added to this picture sober furniture and finishes in natural colors and materials, neutral plasters, and woods of different colors depending on the space. An error occurred. "Surrounded by the best craftsmen, he imagined and delivered spaces that expressed simplicity, sincerity, a modern and timeless style, alongside a natural attention to wellbeing," said his studio. Liaigre continued to design luxury homes in countries around the world after its founder retired in 2016. .css-1cjy3tu{display:block;font-family:Central,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1cjy3tu:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1cjy3tu{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-1cjy3tu{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1cjy3tu{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}20 Enchanting Wedding Decor Ideas.css-ty7wls:after{background-color:#000000;color:#fff;content:'';display:block;height:0.0625rem;margin:0.625rem 0;width:1.875rem;}, These Are the Chicest Spots to Travel to This June, Meet the First Solo Woman Architect in America, These Are the Nominees for Best Production Design, The Most Beautiful Cities to Visit in Your Life, There's a Frank Lloyd Wright Home in Your State, Our Favorite Easter Gift Ideas for Adults, A Cartier Classic Gets a Glimmering Update, The 24 Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in New York City, The 40 Best Mothers Day Quotes From Famous Moms. It was an art of living imbued with the heritage of the French decorative arts masters, including Jean Royre and Jean-Michel Frank. Legendary French designer Christian Liaigre has died. The French creative and founder of design studio Liaigre died on Wednesday 2 September. Boards; Inquire; Christian Liaigre Nickel plated Bronze reading light by . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. (Today Hotel Montalembert is no longer as it was in the 1990 project, as it has already undergone other interventions and some by Liaigre himself). Legendary French interior designer Christian Liaigre, known as the great minimalist, has passed away at 77. Other high-profile clients followed, including Mr. Murdoch and his wife at the time, Wendi Murdoch, for whom Mr. Liagre designed a triplex in SoHo and a 184-foot sailing yacht named Rosehearty. Born in 1943 in the French coastal city of La Rochelle, Liaigre started developing his knowledge of the design sphere when he enrolled in art school Beaux-Arts de Paris at age 17, before going on to study at L'ecole des Arts Dcoratifs. His powerful palette of neutrals set the tone for what consumers wanted for many years, and still looks fresh today. David Duncan, lighting designer, Many designers help move us along, only a few move us forward. 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. Here are the new products and design happenings not to miss at Maison & Objet 2023, Masterpiece London Is Canceled, Nifemi Marcus-Bello Readies for His First Solo Show Stateside, and More News. 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. For more information, please see our Liaigre's painstakingly bespoke approach has won him high praise in the relatively new waters of luxury yacht design. Architectural Digest may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Built vs. Human Dimensions: Coexistence or Conflict? We know your time is valuable. Everything he created was stunningly understated, but his use of luxurious, natural materials and sense of proportion made his spaces romantic and impactful. As an interior designer, he was revered for his restrained aesthetic approach. The living room features chairs, stools, lamps and tables by furniture designer Christian Liaigre is photographed for Los Angeles Times on January. It also favored the emergence of talents and the recognition of the team's works.". In my first commission, I remember being excited to use a few of his meticulously crafted, stylish pieces. It could not be taught. 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. And there was not this expensive and exclusive model of hotel with small rooms in a cast-iron building in SoHo. I always thought of him as our generations Jean-Michel Frank and I have no doubt his legacy will live on for generations to come. Brad Ford, interior designer, His vision went beyond the field of interior design. and our In 1997, he designed The Mercer Hotel in New York City. When studio Liaigre announced their founder's death over Instagram, tributes poured in from notable industry figures. Iris Brosch. Since then I have not done a project without a piece of Liaigre. Ryan Korban, interior designer, Christian made modern furniture chic, timeless and elegant. "He was such a visionary. Plus occasional news. Thank you for influencing so many Christian, you will be sorely missed Alyssa Kapito, interior designer, You cannot overstate the impact Christian Liaigres Montalembert hotel in Paris had on design in the early 90s. Christian Liaigre - Designer Biography and Price History on 1stDibs Log In Sign Up Furniture Lighting Decor & Gifts Art Jewelry & Watches Fashion World of 1stDibs Sale Auctions Sorry, we're currently experiencing technical difficulties. Can you sue for mesothelioma Top Lawyer Advice? Thank you for influencing so many Christian, you will be sorely missed Alyssa Kapito, interior designer, You cannot overstate the impact Christian Liaigres Montalembert hotel in Paris had on design in the early 90s. "Christian Liaigre preferred to let his designs speak for themselves," said Liaigre's studio in a statement. He is continually in search of the unknown, while observing psychology, philosophy, and the influence of culture and society on architecture and design. Christian Liaigre did just that. It's a banana. ", Christophe Caillaud, Liaigre's CEO, adds: "An eponymous brand necessarily identifies with its creator or founder. After all, we were fresh out the Eighties, so exuberant and colorful in fashion, and even in interior architecture in some way. Designer Ronan Bouroullec recalled meeting Liaigre at L'ecole des Arts Dcoratifs and him showing interest in one of Bouroullec's early furniture models. Plus occasional updates on Dezeens services and breaking news. However, if we take a step back and go back to 1990, everything becomes clearer. We will miss him and his genius, but his work will endure far beyond his lifetime. A $77-Million Les Lalanne Auction Breaks Records, AD PROs Essential Guide to Maison & Objet 2023, Off to Paris? 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. Liaigre was known for his clean aesthetic vocabulary at a time when bodacious designs were in vogue. To have people respond to your work like that? By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I will be forever inspired by his visionary aesthetic. Shawn Henderson, interior designer, He was one of my earliest inspirations of my career and he will be sorely missed. Cookie Notice Well, perhaps not so colorful Memphis aside but not with that idea of sophisticated sobriety conveyed by Christian Liaigres projects. ", Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen additionally took to Instagram to celebrate the life of Liaigre, revealing he had been a fan of the late designer's work since the end of the 1980s: "Since then, he's been a great source of inspiration to me, not only as a creative mind but also as an overall stylish yet humble human being.". 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. His influence from the equestrian world could identify a few of the first creations that Liaigre made. Christian Liaigre led his interior design studio for 35 years, creating homes for the likes of Calvin Klein and Karl Lagerfeld. African sculptures next to Louis XV furniture, the neutrality of the architecture., He added, People were beguiled by that hotel.. His luxurious, stark designs attracted a large international audience and were seen for their originality when he came up in the 1980s. It was very male and very architectural.. 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. By the turn of the next decade, a chunky, cracked wooden stool inspired by Brancusis sculpture Endless Column had become his calling card, its gutsy and elemental shape a corrective to the fussy opulence the swags of chintz and Louis chairs that had defined the excesses of the 80s. News from Dezeen Events Guide, a listings guide covering the leading design-related events taking place around the world. Like many of us, Liaigres living room table often doubled as his work areaa place where masterpieces were created. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Actually, the apartment was very big and there was something of the spirit of The Mercer, which was not the spirit of the Mercer but Liaigres design, able to interpret spaces depending on the client and the place. "His taste and style was unmatched and his refined simplicity and elegance stood above everybody else. Everything about him exuded a beautiful restraint and elegance and he made it all look easy. Thank you, Christian. Said Wendi Murdoch. ! From that moment forward I kept an eye on Christian Liaigre who became a seismic influence in the world of interior design. Christian Liaigre was born on Aug. 10, 1943, in La Rochelle, France. Quite distant from the conceptual minimalism of other architects of the 1990s, the spaces designed by Liaigre were neither empty nor white. [9] He died on 2 September 2020 at the age of 77. In this weekly roundup, AD PRO has everything you need to know. 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. New York plans statue of justice Ginsburg, 'daughter of Brooklyn', Real-life 'Pianist' possessions up for auction in Poland, President Harding's family battles over exhuming his body, wHY's new expansion of David Kordansky Gallery opens in Los Angeles, Lisson Gallery to open on Cork Street in Mayfair, Christian Liaigre, minimalist interior designer, dies at 77, Exhibition of new work by Trenton Doyle Hancock spans both of James Cohan's locations, Two Flash Gordon newspaper strips from 1940 light up Heritage Auction's European Comic Art event, Galeria Jaqueline Martins to open in Brussels, Art Gallery of South Australia announces new Board Chair, New digital database to provide unprecedented access to the past, present and future of Glastonbury Festival, 'States of Mind: Art and American Democracy' to coincide with the presidential election, Alvar Aalto Museum receives a donation from the Allan and Bo Hjelt Art Foundation, Major new exhibition explores history & legacy of "commonwealth" in VA, PA, PR, Gigantic dog sculptures welcome New Yorkers back to Broadway in the Garment District, Blum & Poe opens an exhibition of new work by Los Angeles-based artist Aaron Garber-Maikovska, Stephen Cohen, influential historian of Russia, dies at 81, Modern Art opens a solo exhibition of new works by Ron Nagle, French butcher seeks to carve out Unesco distinction, Pace Gallery opens an exhibition featuring Nina Katchadourian's Monument to the Unelected (2008-ongoing), Colin Kaepernick's rookie NFL debut 49ers jersey heads to Julien's Auctions Dec. 4, Microsoft70-483 Certification and Its 70-483 Exam: Go This Way with Practice Tests.