StudiO Studies is an occasional series highlighting interesting, important and/or iconic moments from the history of architecture and design. These posts cover everything from theories and concepts to buildings and spaces – and of course, designers.

Le Corbusier (1887-1965; real name Charles-Édouard Jeanneret) was a pioneering Swiss-French architect, urban planner, and designer known for shaping modern architecture. His functionalist designs emphasised simplicity, open spaces, and concrete structures. Famous for designing iconic buildings such as the Villa Savoye and Chandigarh’s city plan in India, he also developed influential theories like the Modulor system (see below).

Le Corbusier’s Cabanon is a small but (in our view) no less iconic structure located in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, on the French Riviera. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Cabanon was built in 1952 as a personal retreat. The cabin reflects Le Corbusier’s minimalist design philosophy, characterised by functionality, simplicity, and harmony with nature.

Le Corbusier designed the cabin – which measures only 3.66 x 3.66 metres (about 13 sq. m.) – as an “essential living space”. He paid meticulous attention to proportions based on his Modulor system – a scale of proportions inspired by the human body. 

Despite its small size, the interior is efficiently organised to include everything necessary for living: a workspace, a bed, a sink, a dining area, and ample storage. (In the absence of a kitchen, Le Corbusier took his meals at the restaurant next door.) The use of natural materials, especially wood, blends the structure seamlessly with its surrounding environment.

Le Corbusier famously believed a house was “a machine for living in”. He emphasised functionality and avoided unnecessary ornamentation in the Cabanon, exemplifying his belief in “less is more.” Its design is a remarkable study in compact living, while the cabin itself is a thrilling fusion of architecture and nature, opening up views to the Mediterranean Sea.

Poignantly, it was while swimming (against his doctor’s advice) in the Med in front of his cabin that Le Corbusier lost his life in August 1965. Though he is typically remembered for far grander projects, the Cabanon is an important part of his legacy – one with a special place in our hearts here at StudiO.

Photos by Olivier Martin Gambier