Be4U - Furniture Design History - Modernism

Le Corbusier (Charles Edouard Jeanneret) 1887-1965

Le Corbusier was born in October 6,

1887 and death at August 27, 1965.

Besides that, he was well known as

Swiss-French architecture, furniture

designer, writer, urbanist, and

painter. His building design throughout

central Europe, India, Russia

and North and South America.

In the Modernism century, Le Corbusier

had developed a theories of Purism,

again base on the universal qualities of pure geometric shapes.

Such as, rectangular, square and round shapes. 

New materials with different properties had great impact on the

design of the period and like all the movements. It will lost its rigid

adherence to the original rules over time and becoming more rational

rather than purely functional.

During the century, Le Corbusier had designed a amazing and

serious furniture which called Le Corbusier Chaise Lounge. This

furniture was designed at year 1929. Yet, now is still hot in it.

- Le Corbusier, Chaise Lounge,1928

Chaise Lounge is a wonderful and perfectly design. The flexible 

chaise lounge enables the user to recline at any angle as he or

she desires. Besides that, it can be stretch out on a flat

horizontal, either your head or your feet raised, or take the chaise

off the base and rock in it. In the other hand, 

it was an ergonomically designed to fit to human body structure. 

Due to the utilization of tubular-steel as base frame. Tubular-steel

is a strong metal, therefore it could support the weight of standard

human being and looked luxury.

Some other masterpieces :

- Revolving Chair, 1928

 - Armchair with tiling back, 1929

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 1886-1969

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was born

in March 27, 1886 and death at 

August 17,1969. He was a well

known architecture in Germany.

He was also been regarded as one 

of the pioneering masters of modern

architecture.

As similar art movement with 

Le Corbusier, both of them are well 

known during the Modernism 

century. The cleaner style of "fitness for purpose" made

the progression towards Modernism and he come out a principle

as "less mean more" and it will be much easier and understandable.

Besides as a successful architecture, he was also a 

successful furniture designer. He had designed a unsurprised

furniture called Barcelona Chair. Barcelona Chair was one of

the famous chair during the century until now.

- Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Barcelona Chair, 1929

Barcelona chair also an awesome masterpiece from 

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The chair looked so elegant

and luxury. From the side view, we could see the cross

of the steel to each other. There are two buttoned

leather cushion.

This chair had been modified by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 

himself when the time manufacturer Knoll started to produce

it in stainless steel form in 1948.

The support center was the cross which look like a X.

It was a successful and unique design.

Some other masterpieces :

- Armchair, 1929

- Armchair MR50, 1929 - 30

Article Resource :

- C 20th Furniture, edited by Fiona Baker and Keith Baker,

  published by Calton Book Limited 2003

- Bent Wood and Metal Furniture : 1850 - 1946, edited by

  Derek E. Ostergard, published by 

  The American Federation of Arts

- Furniture, edited by Penny Sparke, published by

  Bell & Hyman Limited

- The Design Encyclopedia, edited by Mel Byars,

  published by The Museum of Modern Art