London’s hidden treasures – Le Corbusier tapestry

Although recognised primarily as an architect, Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, known by the pseudonym he adopted in 1920 – Le Corbusier – tipped his hand to many pursuits as an urban planner, artist, designer and theorist. The Swiss Embassy in London is not open to the public, and few are able to...

Although recognised primarily as an architect, Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, known by the pseudonym he adopted in 1920 – Le Corbusier – tipped his hand to many pursuits as an urban planner, artist, designer and theorist. The Swiss Embassy in London is not open to the public, and few are able to see the Le Corbu tapestry that graces the ground floor salon. Your scribe attended a press launch a few years ago at the embassy and took these photos of the tapestry.

Le Corbu’s striking thick rimmed black glasses were placed with care on the speaker’s podium. This style of eyeglasses reminds your scribe of Edna Mode in the Disney film The Incredibles, rumoured to be based on fashion designer Edith Head. But so too this style of eyeglasses is sported by legendary fashion maven Iris Apfel, still going strong aged ninety. Corbu wasn’t the only man of his time to adopt this eyewear, but he was one of the most prominent. Would he approve their iconic status? Of course. DJ