Le Corbusier. Furniture and Interiors 1905–1965

Le Corbusier. Furniture and Interiors 1905–1965

Le Corbusier. Furniture and Interiors 1905–1965 is the authoritative book on Le Corbusier’s work as an interior designer.

 

  • Out of Print

 

Title Information

Arthur Rüegg. In collaboration with Klaus Spechtenhauser

1st edition

, 2012

Hardback

416 pages, 554 color and 313 b/w illustrations

24 x 30.5 cm

ISBN 978-3-85881-728-0

In cooperation with Fondation Le Corbusier, Paris

Content

Le Corbusier may be best known around the world for his innovative and iconic architecture, but he actually began his eventful career by designing furniture. Bringing together striking images of both familiar pieces—his metallic chaise lounge, his modular rooms—and lesser know works, many gathered here for the first time, Le Corbusier. Furniture and Interiors 1905–1965 is the authoritative book on Le Corbusier’s work as an interior designer.

After he moved to Paris in the early 1920s and adopted his now-famous moniker, Le Corbusier developed a particular interest in équipement, a term he coined for the essential furnishings of a residence. He focused specifically on tables, cabinets, and eventually the chrome and leather chairs—designed in collaboration with Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand—for which he became famous. These pieces exhibit Le Corbusier’s trademark metal detailing and elegant austerity. After World War II, Le Corbusier shifted to more functional designs for use in everyday life. These wooden pieces resemble packing crates, evoking a rustic design aesthetic rooted in functionality.

Stunning in scale and scope, Le Corbusier. Furniture and Interiors 1905–1965 follows the evolution of his style chronologically, making it an easy-to-use resource for both scholars and general readers. Entire apartments by Le Corbusier are described in careful detail with complementary images. Drawing upon previously unpublished material and new research, this equally well-designed book contains hundreds of illustrations, making it an invaluable resource for art historians, dealers, and collectors.

 

Winner of the DAM Architectural Book Award 2012.

 

Designed by Guido Widmer.

 

Edition française

Deutsche Ausgabe

Authors & Editors

Arthur Rüegg

, born 1942, is professor emeritus for architecture and building construction at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich). He took his degree in architecture from ETH Zurich in 1967 and ran his own studio ARCOOP in Zürich 1971–98. He has published widely on architecture and architectural history in books and journals and is a renowned expert on the work of Le Corbusier.

Klaus Spechtenhauser

Praise

“The publisher should certainly be celebrating this book as one of the most thoughtful and useful scholarly publications on twentieth-century furniture and interiors.” Christopher Wilk, The Burlington Magazine

 

“Extensively illustrated throughout, with archive photography showing many of the pieces in situ, this is a must for all Corb obsessives.” Jonathan Bell, www.wallpaper.com

 

“There has been a huge amount written about Le Corbusier, and even as a non-believer I own reams of it myself. It might not be instantly obvious why anyone should want to spend this much money on another one. Until you open it. ” Edwin Heathcote, Christieʼs, January–February 2013