Steel, chrome, leather, early twentieth century furniture…it all adds up to modern design of model perfection. And it was originally brought to life by Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris, better known by the pseudonym Le Corbusier. This man was an architect, a writer, a painter, as well as a designer who inspired the world of high design for fifty years. One of his designs was the Le Corbusier Chair and it has remained a symbol of one of the most popular furniture designs.
In Paris in the late 1920’s, Le Corbusier was already a well respected architect of modern office and apartment buildings. He then turned his attention to furniture, creating something new: chrome plated tubular steel and leather chairs. These chairs became known around the world as Le Corbusier chairs, and they were the basis for an ongoing line of furniture that is still popular today.
And Le Corbusier didn’t stop at chairs. At the same time, the Le Corbusier Grand Chair inspired the design of its companion piece, the Le Corbusier Sofa. Both were designed for the artistic exhibition Salon d’Automne in Paris in 1928. Along with the chair, the sofa went on to become a top selling design during the designer’s lifetime and it continues to sell well in this century. Stylish and comfortable, beautiful in its simplicity, his furniture brings together metal and leather in shiny, glossy perfection that many consider equal to fine art.
Today, reproductions of his designs can still be found in offices and homes around the world. Inspiring generations of furniture designers, the Le Corbusier Sofas, chairs, coffee tables, bar stools and other pieces look as fresh today as they did when Le Corbusier first brought them to the world. Clean, minimalist design appears to be the key to its popularity, allowing Le Corbusier furniture to stand on its own or blend with other styles. And yet that style never blends to a point where it does not stand out as the centerpiece of any room.
Black or white leather with steel framing formed into almost artistic pieces draw the eye and the body. Soothing to the eye with its clean lines, Le Corbusier furniture is also soothing to weary bodies with its supportive structure and firm upholstery. A favorite among contemporary designers, these pieces are often the inspiration pieces for entire rooms. And they show no sign of losing their popularity, inspiring a new generation of designers today.
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