'Bloc' Sideboard by Charlotte Perriand for Cité Cansado, 1950s

Designed by Charlotte Perriand during the 1950s for the Cité Cansado development, this ‘Bloc’ sideboard exemplifies her vision of modular living and functional modernism. The composition is structured through a precise arrangement of sliding panels and open storage elements, creating a disciplined architectural rhythm rooted in utility and proportion. Contrasting black and white door panels introduce a restrained graphic quality against the warmth of the wooden structure, while the recessed circular pulls reinforce the clarity and coherence of the design.

The Cité Cansado project in Mauritania formed part of a larger modernist urban initiative developed in collaboration with Jean Prouvé and other leading designers and architects of the period. Perriand’s contribution focused on creating adaptable furnishings suited to modern living conditions while maintaining an economy of form and material. This sideboard reflects those principles through its rational construction, modular flexibility, and understated visual balance, functioning equally as storage and as an architectural element within the interior.

Faithful to Perriand’s belief in creating clarity through design, this sideboard embodies her mantra “Create emptiness”, offering storage that organizes space while preserving openness and harmony. Preserved in its authentic condition with a natural patina, it stands as both a practical piece of furniture and a work of enduring design heritage.