Pierre Guariche

The abundant work of Pierre Guariche (1926-1995) appeared throughout Les Trente Glorieuses, as well as during the major administrative and societal changes of the 1980s.
Trained by Marcel Gascoin, Guariche began in 1951 as a decorator-creator of independent models. For nearly twenty years, he designed innovative furniture, relying on avant-garde publishers, such as Airborne, the MAI gallery, Meubles TV, Steiner, Les Huchers-Minvielle, then Meurop, or even Pierre Disderot for his lighting. Revisiting useful forms in the light of new materials, in 1954 he founded the Plastic Research Workshop (ARP) with Michel Mortier and Joseph-André Motte, his first collective of French creators, which lasted three years.
From the 1960s, he favored interior architecture, where his mastery of space, materials and their implementation was imposed on numerous projects. He participated in the Firminy construction site after the death of Le Corbusier and collaborated with the architect Michel Bezançon on the creation of La Plagne, and with Jean Dubuisson in Bandol. With his expertise requested for multiple private and public projects, he notably designed the prefecture and the general council of Essonne in Évry, as well as the high court of Créteil.
Drawing on previously unpublished archives, this work covers a rich journey of more than 200 fittings, almost as many pieces of furniture, and an exceptional set of lighting fixtures which sets the stage for modern lighting.

Text in French and English

LIONEL BLAISSE, architecte de formation, est le rédacteur en chef de la revue Archicrée. Consultant dans le domaines de l’architecture et du design, il est le commissaire d’expositions sur l’architecture, dont «Le mobilier d’architectes de 1960 à 2020 » à la Cité de l’architecture & du patrimoine, Paris, 2019. Il est l’auteur de nombreux ouvrages dont La Barquière, (AAM, 2017), J.-J. Eggerix (AAM, 2012) et Taoufik El Oufir (Norma, 2009). DEPLPHINE JACOB est docteur en histoire de l’art et enseignante. Spécialiste de Pierre Guariche, elle est également l’auteur de nombreux aricles sur le design français des années 50 et 60. AURELIEN JEAUNEAU est historien de l’art et marchand (galerie Aurélien Jeauneau, Saint-Ouen), spécialisé dans les arts décoratifs d’après-guerre.