Pierre Chapo was born in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, but in 1937 the family moved to Vierzon, in the Cher region of France. In 1947, he met a marine carpenter; in his workshop he discovered woodworking and decided to enroll in the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, architecture section, with Henri Larrieu and Louis Aublet. His studies were interspersed with trips to Scandinavian countries, military service in Germany, as well as a one-year trip to Central America and an internship in an architectural firm in Arizona. 

Back in France, Pierre Chapo continued to work with wood, mainly oak, ash and solid elm, which he combined with his dual interest in contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship. After a few years, he opened a gallery on Boulevard de l'Hôpital, where he exhibited his creations as well as those of other designers such as Isamu Noguchi, with whom he shared a sculptural and organic approach. He received his first commissions, including a simple bed requested by Samuel Beckett. In 1960, at the Arts and Crafts exhibition, his work was recognized by the city of Paris and he was awarded the Gold Medal.

Then it is the development of the workshop of manufacture of pieces of furniture, in Clamart and the participation in several projects with manufacturers and installations with various architects-masters of work of which the work of some like Charlotte Perriand for the station of Arcs will influence it and of which it will publish later a coffee table. In 1967, he exhibited at the Salon des artistes décorateurs and won the Bronze Medal of the Société d'encouragement à l'art et à l'industrie. That same year, he moved to Gordes and created his own company and factory to sell and manufacture the bold and robust solid wood furniture he designed, while keeping the workshop in Clamart and the store in Paris, extending his network with dealers in Brussels and in several French cities with the subcontracting of three workshops in the Vosges.

He continued his career by giving conferences in France and abroad on the subject of cabinetmaking, woodworking, tradition, creation and sincerity.

In 1983, he was diagnosed with Charcot's disease and died in 1987 at the age of 60.