Born in Paris in 1927, Pierre Paulin made his début in the design field in the 50s (after studying stone carving and clay modelling at the École Camondo in Paris) becoming immediately known for his iconic and innovative designs (such as his sculpture-seats Mushroom, Tongue Chair, Ribbon Chair), which to some degree anticipated the approaching social revolutions through the lifestyles they encouraged. In the 70s he was commissioned by the French President Pompidou to fit out a series of reception rooms in the Élysée Palace, bringing modernity to this setting through his emblematic and innovative style. In these same years, Paulin also collaborated with Le Mobilier National, renovating the Denon wing of the Louvre and various other important locations in Paris. He was a designer with a complex personality, and has been celebrated and exhibited all over the world as a recognized master of universal design. An architect of “imagery”, he created a style, albeit at times unwillingly, deeply marking our everyday life with his sweet, harmonic and evocative shapes and their great innovative content. He was one of the few designers in the world who – from the 50s to the present day – has never ceased to be modern. The last works of his 60-year-long career (Pierre Paulin died in June 2009) are low chair Flower, and the Élysée shelving system, designed for Magis, which are the fruit of a rewarding collaboration begun in 2001.
