Take a seat, relax

Le Corbusier’s LC4 Chaise Lounge occupies pride of place in the office of the director of the Alliance Francaise, Chandigarh.

Le Corbusier, furniture, designer furniture, , chandigarh news, indian express

The chair designed by Le Corbusier. (Kamleshwar Singh)

“It’s one of the most comfortable pieces of furniture, one that I use with both pride and care,’’ smiles Dominique Waag, Director, Alliance Francaise, pointing to the LC4 Chaise Longue or the long chair signed by Le Corbusier. Designed in 1928, there are only eight of these chairs, each piece numbered and signed.

In 1927, Charlotte Perriand was invited to join the Le Corbusier studio, as the architect’s attention was drawn to the anodised aluminum and chromed steel furniture that Perriand had designed for a rooftop bar. For the next 10 years, Perriand collaborated with Le Corbusier and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret in the designs issued from the Le Corbusier studio. “These were the first tubular steel designs for furniture, both functional and stylish. Artists during that time started using industrial material in their art, including steel tubes, frames, also used for heating systems,’’ says Waag.

He shows the system of tubes in the chair, and the elastic bands suspended with clips. The chair’s also known as the ‘relaxing machine’, as it takes the shape of the body’s natural curves, supporting it, though the body appears to be floating. “And the unique part is that you can have a number of sitting angles, as the moveable frame adjusts along the base, from the sitting position to complete recline,’’ Waag demonstrates the angles.

The chair has a black lacquered steel base, foam padded headrest, black leather seat, and came to the Alliance Francaise more than 20 years back. “I think two pieces were brought to the city by Corbusier and Jeanneret. Now it’s manufactured by an Italian company, which has an exclusive worldwide licence from the Le Corbusier Foundation and apart from black, is available in white and red colours, too,’’ Waag invites you to take a seat, as he shows the signature of Le Corbusier, tucked under the chair.

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More

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