The LC3 Le Corbusier Sofa: Inspired by Modern Architecture


Everybody knows that the Swiss-French designer Le Corbusier made some of the 20th century's most popular designs for furniture, but probably not all of them know that he based the qualities of his furniture designs from architecture. Like his contemporary Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier (whose real name is Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris) is a professional architect and used the characteristics found in modern architecture and incorporated it into furniture design. One such an example of a modern architecture-inspired furniture piece by Le Corbusier is the LC3 Le Corbusier Sofa.

Part of the LC3 furniture collection, the LC3 Le Corbusier Sofa is one of Le Corbusier's most famous furniture creations and is a classic example of the modern style found in both furniture design and architecture. Like Le Corbusier's architectural works, the LC3 sofa is relatively simple in construction. The sofa is basically made of only two parts: the chrome-plated external steel tubular frame and black leather-covered seat and cushions. The LC3 sofa's unconventional steel frame design is a testament to Le Corbusier's disdain for traditional furniture design which often had the frame hidden under layers of padding.

Because of its innovative design, the LC3 Le Corbusier sofa was considered to be “too metallic” for use in residential homes during the time. Then, in 1929 the LC3 sofa was displayed in the Salon d' Automne in Paris, where it received generous acclaim from critics and onlookers. The sofa later underwent production in the 1930s under the furniture company of Michael Thonet, and in the late 1950s the sofa was re-introduced with several minor upgrades to its design.

Currently, the Cassina S.p.A is the sole authorized manufacturer of the LC3 Le Corbusier Sofa. Cassina produces the LC3 sofas as well as other Le Corbusier furniture designs under license from the Fondation Le Corbusier, and manufactures them with nearly-similar specifications as that of the original.