Tapestries were more than just textiles for Le Corbusier but were essential architectural elements.

His first tapestry work was commissioned in 1937 by Madame Marie Cuttoli. She was an activist in revitalizing French tapestry. She commissioned artists for sketches and sought permissions to recreate their art works in this textile medium. To this, Le Corbusier responded with his work Marie Cuttoli, portraying a female figure in a relaxed posture.

Tapestry, with its insulative properties for sound and heat, was particularly useful in exposed concrete constructions. This is demonstrated in the High Court in Chandigarh with 16 tapestries covering the walls.

However, Le Corbusier not only used tapestries for their physical properties, but also for their architectural qualities. He called them “muralnomad,” expressing the notion that ever-migrating population can find their places with such simple and portable partitions. A single tapestry can be brought into a room and a Corbusian space can be created just by hanging it. His tapestries were often large because of his standardized system of the Modulor. He often insisted that these tapestries be placed ground-up rather than hanging freely in the air.

Tapestry (Total 1)