Good design is timeless. There are numerous interior and design fairs here in Europe, and if you happened to have attended as of late, you might have spotted a few pieces inspired by Le Corbusier’s Color Palette. We will share with you today why Le Corbusier Color Palette is up-to-date. His impact on architecture and design has been tremendous, and we still see many contemporary objects quote the handwriting of his outstanding pioneer of modern design. But did you know he also created a book on color theories in 1931?
A few weeks ago, the New Yorker auction house Swann Auction Galleries listed Die Farbenklaviaturen – the 1st edition of Le Corbusier’s sample book for Salubra, a swiss wallpaper company. Next to the book’s theories and an introduction in 4 languages, there are 62 colorful wallpaper samples, another 12 pages dedicated to his color concepts. These leaves work with a paper slider and can be seen as a color keyboard, helping the reader to compose harmonious looks for a specific interior.
‚He assigned specific “functions” to colors (weight, depth perception, unity, psychological effects, etc.), and specific groups of colors were assigned to each of those functions.’
If you are curious, the estimated price was between $2,500 – 3,500, the price realized was $6,000 in the end.
We have chosen a few contemporary interiors to illustrate his theories about wall colors and to show you how popular his palette is right now! Let’s go from left to right:
1// GREY SHADES
2// BLUE SHADES
3// RED & ORANGE HUES
Giorgio Possenti
4// COSMETIC HUES
Let’s wrap up with a quote by Fernand Leger’s imprinted in Le Corbusier’s Color Palette book: “For man, color is as vital as water and fire. “
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