30 / Inside OutINSIDE homes
THE ORIGINAL
‘LC4’ chaise by Le Corbusier, Pierre
Jeaneret and Charlotte Perriand
The form: A tubular steel adjustable chaise with upholstery sling in fabric or leather.
What makes it special: Dating from the heyday of the Bauhaus era, the ‘LC4’ chaise
was designed in 1928 as part of a collection of chromed tubular steel designs by
a now-legendary architecture and design team. The collection pushed the concept
of Le Corbusier’s ‘machine for living’ idea to its logical conclusion, appearing to be
made by machine rather than by hand. It reflected Le Corbusier’s desire to create
a new way of living where architecture and design freed humanity from methods
and materials of the past, allowing them to enjoy a higher quality of life. From 1965,
much of what Le Corbusier designed in this period was licensed by Italian furniture
company Cassina. In production ever since, these items have become some of the
most well-recognised of the Bauhaus era and 20th-century design in general.
The ‘LC4’ is the most widely recognised of all the furniture designs attributed
to Le Corbusier – maybe because of its revolutionary sweeping arc shape
and adjustability that freed the sitter from the traditional armchair seating
position. Expect to pay: In fabric with leather head cushion and detailing,
from $8840. Canvas, from $9308. Full leather version, from $10,972.
Buy at: Space Furniture, spacefurniture.com.au.The traditional chaise longue
takes on a minimalist look
WORDS DAVID HARRISONcult
classic
THE UP-AND-COMER
‘ Traffic’ chaise
by Konstantin
Grcic for Magis
The form: A bent steel rod chaise bent into
a continuous line to create a supporting
structure covered in removable blocky
upholstery. What makes it special: German
designer Konstantin Grcic is a designer
whose name is synonymous with addressing
challenging but ultimately game-changing
concepts. On many occasions, he has taken
classic pieces as the basic influence for his
design – an undertaking that is rarely well
received within the design community,
but in Grcic’s case, he always brings new,
previously unknown additions to the design
while openly paying homage to the original.
The creator of the concrete-based cast
aluminium ‘Chair One’ and the portable
‘Mayday’ lamp, he designed the ‘Traffic’
chaise in 2013 for Italian furniture company
Magis. Reworking the classic chaise longue,
a seating concept that attempts to combine
reclined relaxation with a reading position,
Grcic offers a new, minimally supported look
where the upholstery appears to be the
heaviest part. The ‘Traffic’ doesn’t have the
flexibility of the ‘LC4’ but is an interesting
addition to this under-represented seating
category. The chaise is available upholstered
in fabric or leather with either a chrome or
gloss powder-coated steel rod support
structure. Expect to pay: From $3302.
Buy at: Cult, cultdesign.com.au.Get your dose of
design through
David Harrison’s
blog at
designdaily.
com.au.PHOTOGRAPHY: (‘LC4’) BEPPE BRANCTHINGS WE LOVE
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