Know like a pro: Le Corbusier


Le Corbusier
Pioneer: Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris, aka Le Corbusier
National Portrait Gallery, London

Tired of the Arts (Nouveau and Deco) and a pioneer of the ‘International Style’, Le Corbusier (1887-1965, Swiss) insisted on a new look to embrace the industrial age he was living in. Born Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, he adopted his maternal grandfather's name aged 29, and with it, a visionary attitude that called for bolder designs to fill the home which he characterised a "machine for living".

What’s he famous for?

Being a design and architecture iconoclast in the early 1900s. Le Corbusier wrote books on interior design and architecture; was a fan of public manifestos and was passionate about modern minimalism. He was featured in Time’s 100 list of Artists and Entertainers. His tubular steel furniture collection, hailed as “Equipment for Living”, reveal his background in architecture - the furniture's frame is on the outside. Get an authorised version of his LC2 masterpiece by Cassina from £2795.00, or an equally impressive LC4 Chaise Longue “relaxing machine” for £2098.00 and make sure you are serious about your down time equipment.

Aram chair
External structure: The LC2
Aram

Keep a lookout for…

Le Corbusier’s “engineer’s aesthetic” which, apart from his furniture pieces, is visible across mass housing blocks, public buildings he was involved with. The white Villa Savoye, an architectural masterpiece at Poissy, just outside Paris, was one of his most important works.

Insider fact

He built his first house, for one of the teachers at his school, aged 18 years old.

Sentence to drop in at a dinner party?

The Swiss were so proud of their Le Corbusier heritage that in 2004, they slapped an image of his chair onto a collection of their postage stamps. Only it turns out they refused to pay a copyright license and had to stop production after three months. Not so kosher.

Have your say

Don't like
Don't like
Like
0 votes
100% loved

Have your say

SteveReid

SteveReid

Posted | 10th February

Really interesting article - to be honest I had never heard of him, but now am considering getting one of his chaise chairs - great design

anonymous user
1000 characters left

Tags that relate to this article