'ECAL: Chez Le Corbusier' exhibition at Villa 'Le Lac', Switzerland

Le Corbusier is no ordinary client, imagined or not. With the modernist architect's 125th birthday coming up, the students from ECAL's industrial design programme got a chance to design a series of objects and accessories for his iconic Villa 'Le Lac', almost as if he had commissioned them himself.

Working with the house's curator, Patrick Moser, ECAL's Elric Petit and designer Chris Kabel asked the students to design an object that would respond to the building and fit inside it, as well as having a useful life outside the house.

The rich history of Le Lac - the first modernist house in Switzerland, designed for Le Corbusier's parents - and working with archive photography of the Jeanneret family at home (the architect's real name was Charles-Édouard Jeanneret), 16 objects were created; delicate, non-invasive and beautifully executed. They fit in with their surroundings, establishing a dialogue with the work of Corbusier.

The students from ECAL were lucky enough to test out their prototypes inside the house, where they can be seen until the end of August.

’Traversier’, by ECAL graduate Massao Combeau This movable, stackable set of small shelves - designed for books and papers - is inspired by sailing boats on the lake. Their width relates to the dimensions of the window

‘The Ring Rug’, by Sylvain Aebischer The colour scheme of the rug responds to Corbusier’s in the house

‘A Shelf With a View’, by Benoit Le Pape Built into the partition wall between the bathroom and the bedroom spaces, this architectural object blends seamlessly into its surroundings. It offers much-needed storage space and opens up onto lake Leman

’Charmotte basket’, designed by Thibault Dussex Corbusier’s family very much enjoyed cherry picking and jam-making, and Dussex’s basket serves as a romantic reminder of their passion for confiture. It is strong enough to hold up to 1.2 kg of cherries and can be hung on tree branches or swung across the shoulder

The Villa Le Lac acted as a kind of manifesto for Le Corbusier during the 1920s for his famous 'white houses'

‘Clic Lac’ by Alice Spieser Made to be attached onto the aluminum structure of the south façade, the modules form ‘shelves’, which can be used during exhibitions and private views, allowing the visitors a place to prop leaflets and glasses

Clic Lac’ by Alice Spieser Made to be attached onto the aluminum structure of the south façade, the modules form ‘shelves’, which can be used during exhibitions and private views, allowing the visitors a place to prop leaflets and glasses

‘Cloche’ (bell) by Mathieu Briand These beautifully designed glass bells are for announcing meal times

'Color Flight', by Pablo Goury These portable lamps are painted to either match or stand out from their surroundings

'Color Flight', by Pablo Goury These portable lamps are painted to either match or stand out from their surroundings

‘Crimes’ objects by Giulia-Amelie Chehab The purely decorative 'Crimes' objects reference ‘Ornament and Crime’ by Adolf Loos

‘Engrenage’ by Fanny Pellegrin A bed/sofa, designed to fit specifically into the main sitting room space, which is sometimes used as a guest room. Fanny Pellegrin’s design consists of two interlocking parts, and can be used as either a mattress or a comfortable sofa

‘Engrenage’ by Fanny Pellegrin A bed/sofa, designed to fit specifically into the main sitting room space, which is sometimes used as a guest room. Fanny Pellegrin’s design consists of two interlocking parts, and can be used as either a mattress or a comfortable sofa

’Frogs’, by Guillaume Capt ‘Frogs’ is a set of shelves with silicone ‘paws’, which allow them to be attached to furniture without damaging it. They can easily be moved around and offer extra storage space

'Handle with care', by Yann Mathys A couple of the villa's original door handles have been replaced by copies made out of silicone, preventing them from damaging the walls. Initial typology is kept intact through molding the material onto the originals

'Hook Le Lac', by Zoe Blanchard
Blanchard’s objects, made especially for the laundry room, are simple and portable

'Hook Le Lac', by Zoe Blanchard Blanchard’s objects, made especially for the laundry room, are simple and portable

‘Les Fleurs Du Lac’ by Jonathan Vallin’s Although without a specific function, Jonathan’s object is ethereal and poetic

‘Les Fleurs Du Lac’ by Jonathan Vallin’s Although without a specific function, Jonathan’s object is ethereal and poetic

'Pendulum' tray by Daniel Simon Lohss Lohss’ brightly-coloured tea tray can easily be carried with just one hand

‘Plantons’ by Romain Viricel Romain Viricel’s outdoor lighting objects can be moved around without damaging the lawn

‘Plantons’ by Romain Viricel Romain Viricel’s outdoor lighting objects can be moved around without damaging the lawn

‘Tubisme’ shelving unit by Michael Filipe Exposed ducts frequently feature in Corbusier’s ‘machines for living’. Michael was inspired by the master himself when designing his set of oak shelves

‘Tubisme’ shelving unit by Michael Filipe Exposed ducts frequently feature in Corbusier’s ‘machines for living’. Michael was inspired by the master himself when designing his set of oak shelves 

ADDRESS

Villa 'Le Lac'
Route de Lavaux 21
CH-1802 Corseux
Switzerland

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