Le Corbusier from Unité d’Habitation de Marseille Wardrobe

Le Corbusier and Atelier des Bâtisseurs (ATBAT) for Charles Barberis, Les Salines, Ajaccio, wardrobe, oak, lacquered wood, lacquered steel, France, 1949

The provenance of this wardrobe is notably intriguing, as it has been tailor-made for the Unité d’Habitation in Marseille, France. The project was under the visionary guidance of Le Corbusier and his workshop, overseen by André Wogenscky. The collaborative efforts extended to the Atelier des Bâtisseurs (ATBAT), co-founded by Le Corbusier, with Vladimir Bodiansty in charge. Originating in 1949, this cubist armoire is predominantly executed in an off-white to cream lacquer, featuring an asymmetrical front distinguished by varying door panel dimensions. Its monotonous look is disrupted by its characteristic handles, gracefully curved and made from natural oak. Inside, you will find shelves and a clothing rack meticulously arranged. Originally conceived as an integrated wardrobe, the cabinet was designed to serve as a dividing element between the children's room and the bathroom. Le Corbusier's Unité d'Habitation was a pioneering modern housing system that unfolded from the 1930s onwards and manifested in four locations in France, including Berlin. The first Unité d’Habitation, known as 'Cité Radieuse,' was constructed in Marseille from 1947 to 1952, a concrete building comprising 337 apartments, a communal rooftop terrace, and additional public services, all meticulously aligned with Le Corbusier's 'Modulor' proportions. Every apartment followed the color palette of Le Corbusier. Nowadays, the Marseille Unité d'Habitation is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage.

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