LIGHTCO NEWS
Nemo: The Masters Collection
Following our introduction of Nemo to the LightCo portfolio, we take a closer look at the Masters collection – a series of iconic designs by some of the most influential figures in 20th-century architecture and design. Developed in collaboration with their respective foundations, each piece preserves a design legacy that continues to shape contemporary interiors.
From Le Corbusier’s integration of lighting into architectural form to Charlotte Perriand’s vision of design as a responsive and adaptable tool for life, the Masters collection reflects a moment in history where lighting became part of the architectural language. Alongside these two visionaries are works by Vico Magistretti, Franco Albini, and Kazuhide Takahama – each contributing a perspective rooted in form, function, and enduring intent.
Explore the Masters collection.
Le Corbusier
Originally designed for the Unité d’Habitation in Marseille, Lampe de Marseille embodies Le Corbusier’s belief that light should exist as an architectural gesture. Its sculptural silhouette, dual-cone diffuser, and pivoting arm offer both functional lighting and expressive form.
Lampe de Marseille Mini at Le Corbusier’s apartment-studio, Paris – ph. Morgane LeGalle
The Parliament Floor Lamp, designed for the Chandigarh Parliament House in India, echoes this same philosophy. Its clean structure and angled shade are direct in form, offering a graphic silhouette and practical light with a modernist sensibility.
“Primary forms are beautiful forms because they can be clearly appreciated.”
– Le Corbusier
Parliament Floor Lamp by Nemo | LightCo
Lampe de Marseille and Parliament Floor Lamp – Project by Arnouva, ph. Simone Furiosi
Charlotte Perriand
Charlotte Perriand’s work in lighting mirrors her vision of adaptability and expression through form. The Applique à Volet Pivotant, designed in the 1960s, features an adjustable aluminium volet that allows the user to direct light and introduce moments of colour or contrast, at once practical and poetic.
“The object is not neutral. There is also a relationship with man, and this must be taken into account.”
— Charlotte Perriand
Applique à Volet Pivotant Collection by Nemo | LightCo
The Pivotante à Poser table lamp continues this ethos with dual rotating shades that open and close the light. Minimal yet tactile, it invites interaction and highlights her commitment to design that responds to life’s gestures.
Franco Albini
Developed in the 1960s with collaborator Franca Helg, the Albini AM/AS series reflects Albini’s Rationalist approach to structure and space. A delicate metal frame supports a suspended glass or chrome shade – visually weightless but precisely engineered.
Each element is pared back to its essence, revealing a light that feels both calculated and elegant – clarity, composition, and proportion brought into balance.
Vico Magistretti
Claritas, Magistretti’s first foray into lighting in 1983, experiments with asymmetry and contrast. A bent tubular frame holds a brushed aluminium reflector, set against matte black detailing – expressive and geometric without being ornamental.
His work embraces reduction with warmth, exploring form through playful but intelligent shifts in angle and silhouette.
“The most important thing for me is conceptual simplicity, which is usually translated into constructive clarity.”
– Vico Magistretti
Claritas Floor Lamp by Nemo | LightCo
Kazuhide Takahama
The Saori Wall/Ceiling Light, designed in 1973, offers a contemporary reimagining of Japanese lanterns. A painted metal frame supports a stretched fabric diffuser, replacing the traditional use of rice paper.
Takahama’s work brings together Eastern sensibility and Western modernism, offering simplicity without austerity – a softness in form that conceals precise design logic.
Saori Wall/Ceiling Light by Nemo | LightCo
Each piece in the Masters collection bridges the worlds of object and architecture, shaped by a clear vision and respect for material. Preserved and reissued by Nemo in collaboration with the designer’s respective foundations, these works remain as relevant today as ever – celebrated for both their material presence and enduring design values.
Discover More
Visit LightCo in Sydney or Melbourne, or get in touch with our team.
Explore the full Masters Collection and discover lighting created by pioneers of modern architecture and design.
Photography Credits
Picasso and Lampe de Marseille at Unité d’Habitation de Marseille, France – © FLC/ADAGP.
Le Corbusier with Appliqué de Marseille Wall Light – ph. Robert Doisneau
Portrait of Charlotte Perriand – © FLC/ADAGP
Original Applique a volet pivotant sketch by Charlotte Perriand – Perriand Archives © FLC/ADAGP
Portrait of Vico Magistretti – © Fondazione studio museo Vico Magistretti.
Original sketch of Lampe de Marseille by Le Corbusier. © FLC/ADAGP.
Original drawing of Borne Béton by Le Corbusier. © FLC/ADAGP.
Studies for the Escargot lighting by Le Corbusier © FLC/ADAGP.
Original Pivotant à Poser sketch by Charlotte Perriand. © FLC/ADAGP.
Parliament green/yellow at Le Corbusier’s apartment-studio, Paris – ph. Morgane LeGalle
Lampe de Marseille mini black at Le Corbusier’s apartment-studio, Paris – ph. Morgane LeGalle
Lampe de Marseille and Parliament Floor Lamp – Arnouva (Manuela Fdez. Langenegger e Linda Greco), ph. Simone Furiosi