Christian Liaigre
Who? Christian Liaigre is credited with redefining modernism and pioneering the use of dark wood, leather sofas and the luxurious cream, brown and grey palette integral to today's stylish interiors. The Financial Times described him as the most important - and the most copied - designer of our time.
What has he designed? Liaigre is a modern-day Midas; everything he touches becomes hip. Among others, he's responsible for the interior of the uber-trendy Mercer Hotel in New York, the refit of Selfridges department store in London, offices for Valentino Couture in Paris; and Hakkasan, London's Chinese restaurant of the moment. He has also designed private residences for such notables as Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld, Rupert Murdoch and Bryan Adams.
Is his furniture any good? So good he has been described as Europe's most renowned industrial architect of this century. Like his interiors, Liaigre's furniture is simple, sophisticated and luxuriously inviting. Credited with being the first designer to introduce African wenge wood into interiors, Liaigre is fond of blending African wood with traditional timber such as English oak to create his minimal furniture.
What is his design philosophy? He attempts to incorporate the culture of a place into his designs. For example, in a modernist retreat on the Galician coast belonging to Spanish fashion designer Adolfo Dominguez, Liaigre designed sliding screens in the woven willow used by local fishermen to make nets. A strong believer in fung shui, he strives to create an atmosphere of meditative serenity and consequently his services are in demand in Asia.
What's his background? Liaigre was born in La Rochelle, France, in 1943, studied at the Paris Academy of Fine and Decorative Arts and taught drawing at the Academy Charpentier. After spending 10 years as a horse breeder he opened a studio in 1987, focusing on interior architecture and furniture design. His first project to win acclaim was the refurbishment of the Hotel Montalembert in Paris in 1988.