Few figures in modern design have had as much global influence as Swiss-born artist, architect, urban planner, and designer Le Corbusier (1887–1965). His commitment to functionality, simplicity, and modernity revolutionized residential architecture and inspired contemporaries like Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe, as well as later architects including Louis Kahn, Eero Saarinen and Oscar Niemeyer.
Le Corbusier’s designs for furniture and tapestries, for example, remain as popular as ever and, as you’ll see, there is more than a hint of Le Corbusier to be found in Pooky’s mid-century style lighting ranges…
The Le Corbusier story
Born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris in 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the pseudonym he later adopted came from his maternal grandfather’s surname, Lecorbésier. His home town had strong links to the country’s watchmaking industry and Le Corbusier initially trained as an engraver and enameller, acquiring skills that required precision and craftsmanship—fundamental to his approach to architecture.
In 1917, after his extensive travels across Europe from Italy to the Balkans, during which he studied classical architecture and urban design, Le Corbusier settled in Paris—under his new name. Here he began to develop his vision for modern architecture.
As a co-founder of the avant-garde journal, L'Esprit Nouveau, he was able to promote his thoughts on functionalism and examine ways of incorporating modern technology into architectural design. His 1926 "Five Points of Architecture" outlined these key principles:
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Pilotis: Supporting columns to elevate buildings.
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Roof Gardens: Functional green spaces.
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Open-Plan Floors: Seamless, adaptable interiors.
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Horizontal Windows: Abundant natural light.
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Free Façades: Independent, flexible exteriors.
These ideas came to life in works like Villa Savoye (1928–1931), a masterpiece of modernist design that blends simplicity, efficiency, and harmony with its surroundings.
Two of three houses designed by Le Corbusier (1927) for the model city of Weissenhof, near Stuttgart. Image: creative commons
And then there was his private life…in 1929, Le Corbusier had a passionate affair with legendary African-American entertainer and erotic dancer, Josephine Baker, then the toast of Paris. The affair came to an end, however, and the following year Le Corbusier married a Monaco-born fashion model, Yvonne Gallis. It was an intense and often turbulent union, marked by extra-marital affairs and bouts of emotional cruelty. And, at the start of their marriage, Yvonne put her foot down about bringing work home, forbidding her husband to talk about architecture at the dinner table…
Bathroom, Villa Savoye, Poissy, France. Image: creative commons
Urban visions… and controversy
As well as creating outstanding individual buildings, Le Corbusier was profoundly interested in urban planning. His vision for the Ville Radieuse (Radiant City) consisted of dense, high-rise housing surrounded by open green spaces, reflecting his belief in the importance of balance between nature and urbanisation.
Sunlight on the concrete columns, Palace of the Assembly, Chandigarh, completed in 1963. Image: creative commons
The city of Chandigarh, India, is his most famous urban project. Serving as chief architect, Le Corbusier designed everything from layouts to government buildings, blending modernist principles with regional sensibilities. And even though not all of his large-scale urban projects were implemented, they would influence modern city planning and high-density housing, worldwide for years to come.
Le Corbusier was not only a giant of architecture and urban design and planning; he was also a prolific painter, sculptor, and furniture designer. His modular furniture designs, created in partnership with Charlotte Perriand (Le Corbusier took the credit for much of her work) and Pierre Jeanneret, remain 20th century design classics. Not only that, he designed stunning tapestries.
We can look to Le Corbusier’s later works, such as the brutalist Unité d'Habitation in Marseille (1947–1952) and the Ronchamp Chapel (1954) to see how his architectural approach and signature style evolved.
La Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Haut, (1950) Colline de Bourlémont, Burgundy-Franche-Comté. Image: creative commons
Like brutalism, Le Corbusier’s work has always divided opinion. During the architect’s lifetime, many found his views, behaviour, beliefs and attitudes challenging – for example, he worked with the Vichy regime during WWII – and they have continued to cloud his reputation.
A case of love the art but not the artist? He certainly fell out of favour with the Irish architect Eileen Gray, when he painted brightly coloured murals onto the walls of the stunning home she had designed in the south of France. As far as Gray was concerned, it was an act of vandalism.
Le Corbusier spent his last years in a modest wooden cabin in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, and died of a heart attack in August 1965, while swimming in the Mediterranean. He lies buried alongside Yvonne, who predeceased him by seven years, under a concrete marker that resembles an architectural model.
Corridor, Unité d'Habitation, Cité Radieuse, Marseille (1947–1952). Image: creative commons
Le Corbusier and lighting
For Le Corbusier, lighting was never an afterthought. Bespoke lighting fixtures settled seamlessly into his architectural projects—to create a greater sense of space.
He was always fascinated by the interplay between natural and artificial light: windows and openings were calculated to maximise natural light, complemented by artificial lighting that mimicked or enhanced its qualities. His lighting designs were based on the same principles as his building; they were simple, functional, and used modern materials, such as steel, aluminium and glass. Several of his wall lights and spotlights, such as Appliqué de Marseille, Lampe de Marseille and Projecteur 365 have become collectors’ classics.
Getting the Le Corbusier look - with Pooky lights
At Pooky we love a bit of modern and mid-century style, and our range has always carried lights influenced by the giants of 20th century design. Here are a few that reflect Le Corbusier’s principles…
Humph wall light
Pooky’s Humph wall light is a classic 1950s spotlight. Made of brass and iron, and finished in antiqued silver, Humph has just the right degree of industrial cool. It is available singly or in a large and long version, which can also be fixed to the ceiling.
With its distinctive streamlined hood, our Bow Tie desk light is equally cool, and proudly mid-century in style. It’s slightly larger than most desk lights, made of brass and available in black or white.
If our Bow Tie design strikes a chord, we also offer a wall light version and a fabulous Bow Tie floor lamp: a perfect combination of materials, angles, length and taper, ideal for your very own mid-century reading nook.
See more mid-century style lights here.
At Pooky, we have a vast range of beautiful designer lights – with something certain to suit your taste and space. Browse them all here.
See also:
Classic interior design styles and how to light them: the Bauhaus
Classic interior design styles and how to light them – Mid-century modern
Great interior designers: Charles and Ray Eames
Great interior designers: Frank Lloyd Wright
Looking for more Le Corbusier? Check out Cemal Emden’s Le Corbusier: The Complete Buildings Handbook. In 2010, Emden set out to document every building designed by Le Corbusier—there are 52 that remain standing, across three continents—and here they all are, interiors as well as exteriors.
Photo top: Le Corbusier (1964), Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam. Image: creative commons
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