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The Ultimate in Comfort -- Adding LeCorbusier Chairs to Your Home or Office
The classic and iconic Le Corbusier chairs were designed over 80 years ago, but they are still popular and sought after additions for today's modern home or office. The name "Corbusier Chair" refers to the chairs produced by the firm during the 1930s, and can refer to any of the three styles that are available today as reproductions.
Le Corbusier is probably better known as a pioneer in modern architecture, but he is also considered to be one of the great furniture designers of the 20th century. Since he died in 1965, there has been scholarly debate and differing opinions about his importance in the history of architecture. However, his contribution to the world of furniture design has never been disputed, and many of his designs are still widely appreciated and have become 20th century icons. These chairs have stood the test of time and seem to be as contemporary today as when they were first designed.
Le Corbusier (the pseudonym of Charles-douard Jeanneret-Gris) was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, in Switzerland, and he studied architecture in Vienna. As a result of his early training in the Arts and Crafts style Le Corbusier learned that all the aspects and details of interior design were part of the sphere of the architect. In Paris, during his early years as an architect, he worked as a decorator and purchased furniture for his Swiss clients. Le Corbusier's first important furniture designs appeared in 1928. when he decided to create his own "modern furniture" to use in the villas of his wealthy clients.
Charlotte Perriand, a young architect, was invited to join the studio and Le Corbusier encouraged her to work on a new style of furniture that would be relevant to the "machine age." Perriand was familiar with his writings, and from 1927 - 1930, she expanded his ideas and oversaw the production of the firm's tubular-steel furniture prototypes.
Le Corbusier had early defined three different uses in furniture: 1) Furniture to be used for an active purpose, 2) furniture designed for comfort, and 3) furniture that was created for total relaxation. The three designs which were then created by Perriand, Le Corbusier, and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, incorporated metal and cushioning, and have become icons of 20th century furniture.
The Chaise Basculant or Le Corbusier's LC1 chair represented his "Active" mode and was used as an office chair. The design was based on the "Safari" chair - the colonial officer's chair with leather straps. The LC1 chair has a reclining back providing comfort and support in multiple positions. The stainless steel frame and legs are available in either a matte black enamel finish or polished chrome.
The second design, the comfortable chair or "Grand Confort" LC2 and LC3 was a cube-like chrome and black leather version of the Maples club armchair. Today this is the most popular of the three styles introduced by Le Corbusier, Jeanneret, and Perriand. The three designers referred to the LC2 and LC3 collections as "cushion baskets" which reversed the standard structures of sofas and chairs by having frames that were on the outside. The Grand Confort Chair is familiar to us today, because it was used in the 1980's Maxell commercial known as the "Blown Away Guy" for its line of audio cassettes. The ad shows a man sitting low in the leather chair, who is almost blown out of it by a stereo system.
The third purpose - that of total relaxation -- is represented by the LC4 or Chaise Longue. As much a work of art as a chair, it has self-balancing adjustment with two-piece construction. With its visible structural elements, it introduced the era of slim profiled and functional furniture. The simple design incorporates a tubular chrome frame with an H-shaped painted steel base. The form mirrors the natural curves of the body and with its true ergonomic design it can be adjusted from a full reclining to a nearly-upright position. The chair is balanced in any position and to adjust it you just move it along the tubular arc to find the desired position.
All the different styles of Le Corbusier chairs are available today in numerous quality reproductions, but the only one licensed by the Le Corbusier Foundation is the Cassina Master line. Cassina SpA acquired the rights to manufacture the furniture designs in 1964, while Le Corbusier was still alive.
Le Corbusier is probably better known as a pioneer in modern architecture, but he is also considered to be one of the great furniture designers of the 20th century. Since he died in 1965, there has been scholarly debate and differing opinions about his importance in the history of architecture. However, his contribution to the world of furniture design has never been disputed, and many of his designs are still widely appreciated and have become 20th century icons. These chairs have stood the test of time and seem to be as contemporary today as when they were first designed.
Le Corbusier (the pseudonym of Charles-douard Jeanneret-Gris) was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, in Switzerland, and he studied architecture in Vienna. As a result of his early training in the Arts and Crafts style Le Corbusier learned that all the aspects and details of interior design were part of the sphere of the architect. In Paris, during his early years as an architect, he worked as a decorator and purchased furniture for his Swiss clients. Le Corbusier's first important furniture designs appeared in 1928. when he decided to create his own "modern furniture" to use in the villas of his wealthy clients.
Charlotte Perriand, a young architect, was invited to join the studio and Le Corbusier encouraged her to work on a new style of furniture that would be relevant to the "machine age." Perriand was familiar with his writings, and from 1927 - 1930, she expanded his ideas and oversaw the production of the firm's tubular-steel furniture prototypes.
Le Corbusier had early defined three different uses in furniture: 1) Furniture to be used for an active purpose, 2) furniture designed for comfort, and 3) furniture that was created for total relaxation. The three designs which were then created by Perriand, Le Corbusier, and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, incorporated metal and cushioning, and have become icons of 20th century furniture.
The Chaise Basculant or Le Corbusier's LC1 chair represented his "Active" mode and was used as an office chair. The design was based on the "Safari" chair - the colonial officer's chair with leather straps. The LC1 chair has a reclining back providing comfort and support in multiple positions. The stainless steel frame and legs are available in either a matte black enamel finish or polished chrome.
The second design, the comfortable chair or "Grand Confort" LC2 and LC3 was a cube-like chrome and black leather version of the Maples club armchair. Today this is the most popular of the three styles introduced by Le Corbusier, Jeanneret, and Perriand. The three designers referred to the LC2 and LC3 collections as "cushion baskets" which reversed the standard structures of sofas and chairs by having frames that were on the outside. The Grand Confort Chair is familiar to us today, because it was used in the 1980's Maxell commercial known as the "Blown Away Guy" for its line of audio cassettes. The ad shows a man sitting low in the leather chair, who is almost blown out of it by a stereo system.
The third purpose - that of total relaxation -- is represented by the LC4 or Chaise Longue. As much a work of art as a chair, it has self-balancing adjustment with two-piece construction. With its visible structural elements, it introduced the era of slim profiled and functional furniture. The simple design incorporates a tubular chrome frame with an H-shaped painted steel base. The form mirrors the natural curves of the body and with its true ergonomic design it can be adjusted from a full reclining to a nearly-upright position. The chair is balanced in any position and to adjust it you just move it along the tubular arc to find the desired position.
All the different styles of Le Corbusier chairs are available today in numerous quality reproductions, but the only one licensed by the Le Corbusier Foundation is the Cassina Master line. Cassina SpA acquired the rights to manufacture the furniture designs in 1964, while Le Corbusier was still alive.
About the Author:
Shirley Reiff Howarth's website can provide additional information on these three classic designs and help you find the one that is perfect for your home or office.