Miami Beach, FL – December 3-4, 2013 – Rewind to 1934. Architect Charlotte Perriand designs a two-bedroom beach house that she dubs “La Maison au bord de l’eau” (the house by the shore). The home wins second prize in the progressive magazine L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui, but beyond its rendering on paper, the design is never constructed. . ‘No one was interested in building it,” says Pernette Perriand, daughter of Charlotte. Dubbed too modern, it’s a dream that is bound to paper.

Fast forward to December 3, 2013 at Art Basel Miami Beach. The holiday home is constructed for the first time ever at the Raleigh hotel as part of Design Miami. In a discussion taking place in front of the work of art, Perriand’s daughter, along with Craig Robins, talk about what the piece means to Design Miami and how they wish Perriand were alive to see her dream come to fruition.

“As a collector, I believe Perriand is an amazing artist,” Robins says. “I am eager to discover her in this installation. Today we are rediscovering an important creative mind. Sometimes great things are worth waiting for.”

Indeed they are. And after 80 years of waiting, Perriand’s work finally receives a proper format in which to be discovered, thanks to Louis Vuitton. The luxury brand reached out to Perriand’s daughter, Pernette, in January of 2012, when Julie de Libran visited the archives looking for inspiration for the Icones collection, which she designs. The two-bedroom home with full kitchen and bath became the focus of the collection.

As part of a satellite installation for Design Miami, Perriand and her house become the focus of the week’s festivities, including an invite-only barbecue and a Design Talk with Vanity Fair’s Ingrid Sischy, Pernette and Jacques Barsac, as well as the muse for Louis Vuitton’s Icones Summer 2014 collection. But today it is Robbins who sends the message those in the audience are collectively thinking. “Our community has been enriched by Louis Vuitton’s generosity. It’s no wonder a brand that centers around travel loves Miami.”

Louis Vuitton Art Talk with Ingrid Sischy at The Raleigh

Michael Burke, Ingrid Sischy, Pernette Perriand, & Jacques Barsac

Michael Burke, Ingrid Sischy, Pernette Perriand, & Jacques Barsac

GALLERY SLIDER

Louis Vuitton Press Preview at The Raleigh

Valérie Chapoulaud Floquet, Pernette Perriand, & Craig Robins

Craig Robins

GALLERY SLIDER

Pernette Perriand, Jacques Barsac, & Frederic Winckler

Craig Robins & Jacques Barsac

Craig Robins, Pernette Perriand, Frederic Winckler, & Jacques Barsac

Craig Robins, Jacques Barsac, & Pernette Perriand