In 1952, on the shores of the French Riviera, Le Corbusier built “Cabanon”: the absolute archetype of essential living. The project, executed according to the rules of the Modulor, is found just a stone’s throw away from the sea and served as a refuge for the architect in his final years. Lampe Cabanon, named after the inspired microcosm, represents a symbol of architecture, design, production, and essential living. The lampshade, made from tracing paper that the
architect used, was crafted from a wartime artifact – a mortar shell carrier – found on French beaches. The lamp, for which numerous sketches and designs exist, represents a moment of rebirth in the post-war world.
Le Corbusier’s interest in fine arts from an early age led him to focus on architectural designs made up of lines and geometric colour blocks. For him, painting, sculpture and architecture are not isolated disciplines.