Manhattan Home Design Reviews | Why Is Le Corbusier’s LC3 Sofa Such an Important and Legendary Design?

Manhattan Home Design Reviews. Breaking the mold is not usually an easy task. However, when the right ideas come at the right time, the next step is to surprise the world with whatever you have to give. This seems to be the general idea that motivated Le Corbusier, in association with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand, to present his famous collection of sofas that in 1928 caused a great sensation among specialized critics and users, especially lovers of the Mid-Century Modern style, who found in this design a revolutionary piece that was unlike anything previously seen. The LC3 Sofa had such an important introduction to the world of modern design that, almost a hundred years later, it has not stopped capturing the interest and taste of many generations. In this installment of Manhattan Home Design Reviews, we have set out to let you know the history of this model, a product with a long history of success.

One of the most representative characteristics of the Le Corbusier 3 Style Sofa, which also directly broke the conventions of the traditional design of armchairs and sofas, was its outstanding exterior tubular structure, exposed to view throughout the piece’s frame. This resource, which is a compositional part of the design’s aesthetics and makes a magnificent visual contrast with the leather of its upholstery, is one of the reasons why many people are captivated by this very magnetic design at first glance. There are versions of these Le Corbusier pieces with 1, 2, and three seats, and there are also versions with other types of upholstery, such as the tanned leather version, but they all retain the same aesthetic essence and the same functional characteristics.

lc3 sofa
The LC3 Sofa

A Unique Modernist Experience

The padding of the seats, backrest, and armrest is one of the most significant features that make this product a piece capable of bringing to the users clear sensations of ergonomics and spectacular comfort. As is well known, in modern design not everything revolves around aesthetics, but also around the functionality and practicality with which these pieces of furniture are usually used, so achieving a sofa that feels very good when using it was paramount. The geometric shapes of the design are another of the typical features of the MCM and reflected the creative vision of its author.

The relevance of these products by Le Corbusier is so notable that these pieces are part of the permanent collection of the Design Museum, and are exhibited as a tribute to the basic design principles of the last century that have prevailed through the years and have made that pieces like this are perpetuated in the sales lists, being requested both by professional interior designers and by enthusiastic users of interior decor. They are pieces that work very well in any modern setting and have gained symbolic value due to the meaning they have accumulated over the years.

le corbusier 3 style sofa
Le Corbusier 3 Style Sofa

Having these pieces as the focal points of an environment can be the perfect step to give a new face to a living room, a studio apartment, or even an office. They are the kind of designs that look good from any angle and that anyone will be able to love almost automatically. Le Corbusier’s collection is available in the Manhattan Home Design catalog.