"Our eyes are made to see forms in light. Light and shade reveal the following forms: cubes, cones, spheres, cylinders or pyramids. These are the great primary forms. The image of these is distinct and tangible within us without ambiguity. It is for this reason that these are the most beautiful forms."
-Le Corbusier

Reissued as part of Nemo's 2016 range at Maison et Objet, this charming concrete luminaire stands the test of time and has been brought up to date with an LED light source. The simple design speaks to the lyricism of form and refined functionality for which Le Corbusier is known.

The Borne Beton lamp, designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier in 1952, stands as an early masterpiece of Brutalist industrial design. Conceived not as an isolated decorative object but as a functional extension of his master-planned architectures, the lamp was originally created to illuminate the communal outdoor walkways of his revolutionary Unite d'Habitation housing complex in Marseille (Cite Radieuse).

It was simultaneously deployed to light the massive Bhakra Dam and Sukhna Dam infrastructure projects in Chandigarh, India. The original, monumental outdoor fixtures have since been scaled down and re-engineered for modern spaces by the Italian lighting manufacturer Nemo Lighting.

Each lamp is a handcrafted product and small aesthetic and finishing differences exist to make each unique.