Setting the record straight, Villa “Le Lac”

From 26 June to 25 October 2026, discover the new exhibition presented by the Villa “Le Lac” Le Corbusier Association in Corseaux.

Setting the record straight – notably with regard to Eileen Gray, Charlotte Perriand, and such 20th-century icons as the Villa E-1027 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and the chaise longue à réglage continu (the continuously adjustable chaise longue) – presents an opportunity to chronicle the true history of the Villa “Le Lac”, of Le Corbusier, and of the Modern Movement. By this, it is meant a history established by historians, grounded in contextualized sources, and analyzed in the light of a profound understanding of an era as complex as that spanning from the 1920s to the 1950s.

The mechanics of information in the age of the internet, social media and artificial intelligence allow for the creation of parallel universes – sometimes dystopian ones. Yes, we have stepped squarely into the world of post-truth, proving de facto that Umberto Eco was a genius. He had not, however, realised just how fragile the balance of a rational world was, for the village idiot has infected other inhabitants – those who ought to be a bulwark against obscurantism: people reputed to be educated, writers, journalists, publishers, filmmakers, professors, all those who ought to be committed to conveying verified information that corresponds to reality.

In the media lynching to which Le Corbusier is being subjected, we are witnessing a rather unique case of relentless persecution. Setting the record straight is about putting an end to the nonsense and gaining altitude in order to get a broader view of the issue; thus, everyone will see that the Earth, whilst it may be blue like an orange, is no less round. For Le Corbusier will remain one of the great figures of 20th century culture: a visionary architect who invented signature architecture, who built across four continents; a peerless communicator, at once a writer, painter and sculptor; a humanist reconnecting with the great figures of the Renaissance, driven by the desire both to envision the world and to build it.

A synthesis of the work carried out over more than 25 years by Arnaud Dercelles, Rémi Baudouï, Jean-Louis Cohen, Jacques Sbriglio, Véronique Boone, Robert Belot, Renaud Barrès, Tim Benton and so many others. 

With contributions from Renaud Barrès, Tim Benton, Dominique Claudius‑Petit, Edouard Curchod, Jacques Gubler, Robert Belot.

Bilingual exhibition French-English