For decades now the initials "LC" have been sufficient to conjure up in the minds of architects and designers an impressive work which has characterized the 20th century like almost no other: Be it "Villa Savoye", Ronchamp, "Unité d'Habitation" or Chandigarh, "Modulor", "LC"-armchair or -Chaiselongue - the designs of French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier (1887 bis 1965) rate as milestones in architecture and design history. Le Corbusier himself with his prominent black, horn-rimmed glasses became the epitome of a Modernist architect. Right in time for "LC's" 120th birthday the exhibition "Le Corbusier - The Art of Architecture" is dedicated to his life and work. The Vitra Design Museum, the Nederlands Architectuur Institut and the Royal Institute of British Architects have put together the first extensive retrospective in 20 years, presenting his works chronologically in categories such as "Contexts", "Privacy and Publicity" and "Built Arts". His ideas on the "synthesis of arts" are represented in the context of the Mediterranean, the Orient, organic forms, new technology and media.The extensive exhibition includes architectural models, drawings and plans as well as sculptures, books, films and paintings. They come from the Fondation Le Corbusier in Paris, from European and American private collections, the Vitra Design Museum collection and also from Le Corbusier's own private collection. The exhibition aims to provide an introduction - particularly for a younger generation of architects and designers - as well as explicitly enabling a contemporary perspective on LC's work.An almost 400-page catalog with approx. 500 illustrations has been published in conjunction with the exhibition. The exhibition, curated by Stanislaus von Moos, Arthur Rüegg and Mateo Kries, will be on show at the Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein until February 10, 2008. It will subsequently travel to Lisbon, Liverpool and London.01 / Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret und Charlotte Perriand
Chaise longue à réglage continu, 1928
Stahl verchromt und lackiert, Stoff, Stahlfedern, Gummi,
Kunstlederbezüge, 76 x 55,5 x 158 cm
Thonet Frères, Paris (ab 1930, als Modell B306)
Sammlung Alexander von Vegesack
© FLC / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2007 02 / Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret und Charlotte Perriand
Fauteuil à dossier basculant, 1928
verchromtes Stahlrohr, Leder, Stahlfedern, 64 x 64 x 66,6 cm
Thonet Frères, Paris (Vorserie 1929)
Sammlung Vitra Design Museum
© FLC / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 200703 / Philips Pavillon auf der Weltausstellung in Brüssel, 1958
© FLC / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 200704 / Villa Shodhan, Ahmedabad, 1951-56
© FLC / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 200705 / Villa Savoye, Poissy, 1928-31
© FLC / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 200706 / Pavillon Suisse, Paris, 1929-33
© FLC / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 200707 / Entwurf für einen Wandteppich im Parlamentsgebäude, Chandigarh,
Tusche und Bleistift auf Papier, 49 x 121 cm, 1961
© FLC / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2007