Cassina LC3 Two-Seater in Leather: the “Cushion Basket” Modernist Sofa

A modernist sofa that keeps its structure visible

Cassina’s LC3 two-seater (Fauteuil Grand Confort, grand modèle) is often summarized by what it refuses to hide: the supporting frame and the soft volume are intentionally separated. It reads as an upholstered “insert” held by an external steel perimeter, which makes the silhouette feel architectural rather than plush. Product page

Cassina and the discipline of authorized editions

Within Cassina’s Le Corbusier®, Pierre Jeanneret®, Charlotte Perriand® collection, the LC3 sits as an editorially controlled re-edition: the brand positions the piece as an icon of design history while continuing to adjust finishes and configurations across decades. Cassina’s own listing for the two-seater anchors the model in its production lineage. Cassina LC3 two-seater

Where the LC3 comes from (and what “Grand Confort” means)

The “Grand Confort” seating concept was conceived in 1928 by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, and Charlotte Perriand, and first presented publicly with the tubular furniture suite at the 1929 Salon d’Automne in Paris. Fondation Le Corbusier archive In Perriand’s own framing, it’s a “cushion basket”—a metal envelope that receives independent seat and back cushions. “Cushion basket” note

Design points that matter in daily use

On the two-seater, the exoskeletal frame does more than outline the shape: it sets clear boundaries for the cushions, so the sofa keeps its geometry even when lived-in. The user experience is defined by parts that remain legible—steel as structure, leather as volume—so maintenance and reupholstery logic feels built into the design language, not added later.

Installation story

A customer report notes the LC3 two-seater was delivered on December 13, 2025, configured with a chrome structure and dark “Grafite” leather upholstery (Scozia), with polyester-filled padding. In their photos, the sofa reads crisp and rectilinear in situ, with the steel perimeter sharply outlining the cushions.

Where it lands best

The LC3 works in rooms that benefit from visual order: studios, offices, and living spaces where you want the seating to read as part of the architecture. It pairs naturally with planar tables, low shelving, and restrained palettes, but it’s equally effective as a single “hard-lined” counterpoint in a softer interior. For collectors, it’s also a practical way to live with a museum-validated modernist type while staying inside Cassina’s authorized production context. MoMA collection record

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