Catalogue Raisonné du Mobilier: Jeanneret Chandigarh

Preview: Catalogue Raisonné du Mobilier: Jeanneret Chandigarh

€195.00 *

Prices incl. VAT plus shipping costs

1 in stock. Ready to ship today,
Delivery time appr. 1-3 workdays

Order number: V122626

About the Work

After India gained independence, Jawaharlal Nehru, the country's first Prime Minister, envisioned "a new town, symbolic of the freedom of India...an expression of the nation's faith in the future." Chandigarh, named after the Indian goddess of power, Chandi, was built as a realization of Nehru's dream. This municipality, designed by renowned modernist architect Le Corbusier, embodied India's determination to move forward into the contemporary world.

Chandigarh was conceived as a horizontal grid with broad avenues, residential areas, green spaces, medical facilities, schools, temples, shops, sports grounds, and an artificial lake, rather than a "vertical city." Le Corbusier designed most of the infrastructure, emphasizing large volumes through the bold use of raw concrete. He adapted his plans to the regional climate by providing protection from the sun and monsoon rains while promoting air circulation through vented shutters and large terraces. In collaboration with his cousin, Pierre Jeanneret, he supervised the production of numerous furniture items for public and private buildings, using wood from the forest-clearing required for this vast undertaking.

Recently, record-breaking auction prices for these pieces have drawn attention to this great project and its creators. Indian leaders are now recognizing the value of this significant cultural heritage, and since January 2011, no furniture items can be taken out of the country without permission from the authorities and the Ministry of Culture. This specialized catalogue raisonné offers new insight into this visionary urban project, which is generating increasing interest among design enthusiasts worldwide.

About the Author

Jacques Dworczak was fascinated by art objects and antiques from a young age, which led him to become a respected specialist in the field of naval artifacts. His love for luxury ocean liners took him to India where he discovered the hidden gem of Chandigarh, and this changed the direction of his career.

He was mesmerized by the innovative architecture and bold aesthetic of the urban project, and since then, he has been sharing his passion for this extraordinary example of midcentury design. Jacques has spent years researching archives, museums, and on-site materials to provide a comprehensive overview of the diverse range of furniture crafted by Le Corbusier and his cousin, Pierre Jeanneret.

"Assouline is more than a publishing house, it is a lifestyle brand."

New York Magazine