LC5 Canapé, Appartement Le Corbusier

Overview

The LC5 Canapé (5 Canapé, Appartement Le Corbusier) is the sofa Le Corbusier drew for his own Paris apartment; the original there is still kept. Cassina's product sheet puts the design in 1934, with Cassina production in 2023, and files the piece under its Le Corbusier®, Pierre Jeanneret®, Charlotte Perriand® Collection. It comes as a two-seater or a three-seater; the three-seat model (005 8_) is 256 cm wide, 78 cm deep and 71 cm high.

Construction

The backrest and seat are formed by feather-filled cushions carried on a metal base that the page says comes in the seven collection colours. The page lists the frame as tubular steel, polished chrome or painted; the product sheet lists the base as steel angle bar, chrome-plated or painted in price-list colours, with an inner steel frame painted black and elastic webbing, and black plastic feet. Cushion padding is variable density polyurethane foam; coverings are fabric or leather.

Image source: Cassina — LC5 Canapé, Appartement Le Corbusier · © Cassina and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy

Specifications

• 005 8_ (three-seater): 256 x 78 x 71 cm, seat height 38 cm
• 005 6_ (two-seater): 173 x 78 x 71 cm, seat height 38 cm
• Frame: chrome plating, or paint in mud, grey, brown, black, green, ivory or light blue
• Coverings: fabric (E, F, L, O ranges) and leather (Scozia X, Extra Y, Natural Z)

A sofa from the architect's own flat

Cassina describes the LC5 as a sofa of comfortable, contemporary lines that Le Corbusier designed for his Paris apartment. The original model remains in that apartment, and it is the starting point Cassina names for its long re-edition work.

Re-edition by Cassina

The first reworking was made in 1974, with Charlotte Perriand taking part; it came in a single size and a chrome finish. Since then the range of finishes has grown and the sizes have been altered. Today's edition is a two- or three-seater in leather or fabric, placed by Cassina in its Le Corbusier®, Pierre Jeanneret®, Charlotte Perriand® Collection.