Modern spirit: the Swiss Institute gives Corbusier icon a millenial twist

A large lounge area with bright green walls and floor. A dark green velvet armchair sits in the foreground with varying pieces of designer seating around a small dark marble effect coffee table.
In tribute to Le Corbusier’s visionary project Pavillon de L’Espirit Nouveau – held at the 1925 Paris Exposition des Arts Décoratifs – the Swiss Institute is staging ’PAVILLON de l’Espirit Nouveau: a 21st century show home’
(Image credit: TBC)

Precisely 90 years ago, Le Corbusier debuted his ground-breaking Pavillon de L'Espirit Nouveau at the 1925 Paris Exposition des Arts Décoratifs, best known for Art Deco masters such as Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. At the time, the architect’s cube-shaped housing unit distinguished by stark white walls and an open floor plan sparked considerable outrage. Now, in tribute to Corb’s visionary project, the Swiss Institute is staging 'PAVILLON de l'Espirit Nouveau: a 21st century show home', referencing his revolutionary approach through the eyes of more than 30 cutting-edge global architects and designers.

The show is curated by architect Felix Burrichter, the founder of Pin-Up magazine, who anchored the project within the Soho Swiss Institute’s stylish two-storey quarters, once the home of Jeffrey Deitch’s gallery.

‘I’ve created an environment that expands on Le Corbusier’s setting but rather speaks of our age with a pronounced emphasis on both escapism and surveillance,’ explains Burrichter. Architect Shawn Maximo designed the exhibition, bringing in 12 surveillance cameras that capture the gallery visitor walking through the show. They can even be found perching on actual pieces of design: from Max Lamb’s coffee table composed of marble scraps set in resin; to Piero Lissoni and Paul Kopkau's Carbon Frog Chair; and Ifeanyi Oganwu's sleek stainless steel shelving.

‘As to the design, all it was produced in the past 15 years,’ notes Burrichter who commissioned work by Josh Bitelli and Bethan Laura Wood. Other designers include Jasper Morrison and Joris Laarman, plus a host of new names.

Yes, standard domestic spaces like the bedroom and kitchen fill the gallery but Maximo ramped up the stakes when he created a ‘Power Room’ complete with a climbing wall made up of Josh Bitelli’s silvery mirrored glass chunks.

The Swiss Institute director Simon Castets best sums up this creative endeavor. ‘As to totality, Felix’s creation is about stepping into the future while blurring the lines of reality and fantasy,’ he says. So if you’re hankering to take in an immersive experience with interiors and design of the moment, the Institute is place to go.

Entrance to a design 'show home'. All walls and floors are bright green. Before entering a list of architects' and designers' names is displayed on the wall.

The show references Corbusier’s revolutionary approach through the eyes of more than 30 cutting-edge global architects and designers

(Image credit: l’Espirit Nouveau)

A large scale spherical chandelier made of hexagonal coloured shapes hangs against a bright green wall displaying a widescreen digital image.

The show is curated by architect Felix Burrichter, the founder of Pin-Up magazine, who anchored the project within the Soho Swiss Institute’s stylish two-storey quarters. Pictured: ’Red, Yellow and Blue Dodecahedron, extra large size chandelier and optical instrument’, by Christian Wassmann, 2015. Courtesy R&Company and the artist 

(Image credit: l’Espirit Nouveau)

A striking four poster bed with a steel grid structure and metallic blue bed covers against a bright green wall and floor.

’Four Poster Bed’, by RO/LU, 2015

(Image credit: l’Espirit Nouveau)

A dining area featuring circular dark green table and chairs and blue bookcase against a bright green wall and floor. A widescreen monitor above the bookcase displays a digital image of the dining area.

’Moon Rock Dining Table’, by Bethan Laura Wood, 2015

(Image credit: l’Espirit Nouveau)

A dark grey rug with the appearance of a puddle of water sits on a bright green floor. A large scale circular lamp stands on the floor behind against a bright green wall.

’Puddle (Small Twig)’, by Marlie Mul, 2013 (left), and ’Gradient Lamp’, by Camille Blin, 2009

(Image credit: l’Espirit Nouveau)

Lounge area with dark green velvet armchair, light coloured bench-style sofa and dark marble effect coffee table against a bright green wall and floor.

From left: ’Mollo’ sofa, by Phillipe Malouin, 2014; ’Marmoreal Coffee Table’, by Max Lamb, 2015; ’I just live here’, by Jessi Reaves, 2015

(Image credit: l’Espirit Nouveau)

A medical trolley unusually displaying kitchen utensils, storage jars and bottles of alcohol.

’Med-Bar’, by Nanu Al-Hamad, 2015 (left); and ’Technical Milk’, by Sean Raspet, 2015

(Image credit: l’Espirit Nouveau)

An unusual placemat with large pale pink lips and a very long protruding red tongue.

’Lip Placemats’, by Katie Stout, 2015

(Image credit: l’Espirit Nouveau)

An unusual desk made of different shaped parts that fit together in an almost disjointed way. A black and white rocking chair made from carbon.

Left: ’NDLSS_MND’, by Gustavo Torres [Kidmograph], 2014 hangs atop ’Cut_pastel No.1’, by Robert Stadler, 2013 with ’Nóize Chair’, by Guto Requena, 2013. Right: ’Carbon Frog Chair’, by Piero Lissoni and Paul Kopkau 1995/2015

(Image credit: l’Espirit Nouveau)

INFORMATION

‘PAVILLON de l’Espirit Nouveau: a 21st century show home’ is on view until 8 November

Photography courtesy of l'Espirit Nouveau

ADDRESS

Swiss Institute
18 Wooster Street
New York, NY 10013

TELEPHONE

1212 925 2035