Notre Dame du Haut: peace and silence according to Le Corbusier
In Le Corbusier's biography, the models of the contests he didn't win that his works raised from him, a sign that the ruling bourgeoisie was not so benevolent with his ideas like contemporary theorists. Does not matter. When he had the opportunity, he showed that the future passed through its volumes . For this reason, doing this Lecorbutour is still a trip to the future more than half a century later.
Villa Schwob, by master Le Corbusier
LA CHAUX-DE-FONDS I: FLIRTING WITH REFIONALISM AND ART NOUVEAU
Although, in his own catalogue, Le Corbusier reneged on his first projects on the slopes of this city in the Swiss Jura, the influence of La Chaux-de-Fonds cannot be dissociated from his work. First, for being a rational city , designed by and for the watch industry (a World Heritage Site for that) and with an urban planning based on parallel lines and a certain Serialism. To that we must add that spirit of proletarian paradise that bustled through its streets thanks to the good distribution of the money obtained thanks to the hands and minute hands. These characteristics remained engraved in his subconscious and would not end up manifesting until decades later when he would theorize about architecture. At that time, he was just another student of the prolific L'Epplattenier and his first works - the Villa Fallet, the Villa Jaquemet and the Villa Stotzer - were correct boasts of alpine regionalism and French with certain nods to Art Nouveau.
Villa Jaquemet, a brand of talent
LA CHAUX DE FONDS II: THE VILLA SCHWOB AND THE MAISON BLANCHE
with the money earned Thanks to these works, Charles saw the world, discovered the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Greece (“I have admired perfection since I saw the Parthenon”, he assured) and returned home with renewed ideas. What he learned about light and color he applied in the Villa Schwob , known since then as the Turkish Village due to its chromatic resemblance, its oriental character and the use of brick. A creation that cost him too dearly: little neighborhood acceptance , excessive budget and voluntary exile to Paris.
Five years earlier he had very successfully projected the Maison Blanche , a house that he gave to his parents and in which he was already beginning to declare his intentions: free façade, dialogue with the landscape from within and lots and lots of light. This wonder is today one of the great attractions from La Chaux-de-Fonds, being able to visit on weekends.
Maison Blanche, a house that he gave to his parents
THE PARIS TRIPTYCH
His arrival in the French capital implied a name change with which to sign his works (he shared a surname with his cousin, also an architect), he badly shortened his great-grandmother's surname (Lecorbésier) and began to project. Paris is the city with the most works by Le Corbusier, but the most interesting and accessible outside of kamikaze safaris is to visit the triptych proposed by the Foundation of him. Or what is the same, visit the Maison La Roche, his Siamese Maison Jeanneret and the artist's studio in rue Nungesser et Coli . A didactic way of approaching a work that was taking shape with its balconies and facades and in which the defining features of Le Corbusier were appearing, despite the irregularity of its plan.
VILLA SAVOY, POISSY
The 1920s ended precisely with this project, where so much Parisian experimentation paid off. The Villa Savoy is the house in which we have all dreamed of living . And it will probably remain an immaculate object of desire for our great-grandchildren. Apart from aesthetic considerations, it is one of the first works of International Architecture (a style that would also exploit Lloyd Wright , or van der Rohe) and the first construction in which he displayed his Five points for a New Architecture . Today it is the great embassy of the work of Le Corbusier, becoming a national monument that perfectly dynamizes the work of this architect.
Unite D'habitation in Marseille
MARSEILLE, UNITE D'HABITATION
Although aesthetically it is not candy, the Unité d'Habitation is the perfect prototype of what Le Corbusier understood a house (inhabitation unit) and a self-sufficient residential building to be. Quite an anti-deurbanization song (“Single-family house mania” he used to say) and pro-garden city since there would be wide green areas at its feet. But let's enjoy it, the current Unité d'Habitation has a hotel that allows you to enjoy life as Le Corbusier had thought. A bit geek, but curious.
The Gustavo Capanema de Río building is eminently Lecorbusian
AMERICAN BRUSH STROKE
Ever since in 1929 he flew over the big South American cities (Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, etc.) for the first time, Le Corbusier became obsessed with trying to change the urban planning of certain cities. completely anarchic and unnatural. As much as he designed projects and plans, none of his ideas came true. However, in the New Continent, three works signed by the Franco-Swiss genius stand out. The first was the Gustavo Capanema building in Rio , a building that he signs together with other illustrious people such as Niemeyer or Lucio Costa, but which is eminently Lecorbusian , marked by the pilings at its base and by the brise-soleil.
In Buenos Aires the thorn could be removed thanks to the House Curutchet , a project that was quite a challenge since he had to apply his precepts in a very limited space dominated by an old tree. Even so, the result is iconic, shocking, very modern and wonderful that can be seen thanks to the visits organized by the College of Architects of the province of Buenos Aires.
The last one I would design in the twilight of its production , being one of the last ones that he saw inaugurate in life. The first is the Harvard University Carpenter Center for Visual Arts , where he applies his basic principles to a building for student purposes and adapts his style to the inclement weather of Massachusetts.
Chandigarh is straight up Le Corbusier's dream come true
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is straight up Le Corbusier's dream come true. The only city that he was able to design from the beginning, a symbol that was born to lead the modernization of India . An irresistible project. The consequence is the largest concentration of works by Le Corbusier in the world, in addition to urban planning based on sectors of 150 families introverted and self-sufficient . In addition to the foundations of a new city, Le Corbusier built authentic monuments such as the Capitol complex, made up of the Supreme Court, the Secretariat building, the Legislative Assembly and the monument of the Open Hand.
RONCHAMP
the chapel of Notre Dame du Haut It has more than earned being the image of contemporary religious architecture. Here Le Corbusier made the effort to put aside his style to create a work closely linked to the space, the promontory and the hill and with many nods to his great admirer: the Acropolis (because of its location above Ronchamp and because you can only enjoy the whole construction when you reach the top). The building is captivating for its sculptural form and for adapting the maxims of Le Corbusier's architecture to a building dedicated to worship. That is, apply his phrase " I worked for what men need most today: silence and peace ” to an isolated and almost mystical space.
FIRMLY
Le Corbusier arrived in this predominantly mining French town with the task of creating a new modern neighborhood that would give it some future to the city . And so he did, begetting Firminy Vert , a new area characterized by green areas and international architecture where not only urban planning stands out, but also monuments. Especially the imposing church of Saint-Pierre , completed just 8 years ago and is the last great work of Le Corbusier. But it doesn't just shine for the anecdotal , but because it is an impressive temple with a square floor plan and a very peculiar conical elevation. And more so considering that we are in France and that there is nothing here that can start from scratch.
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the current Unité d’Habitation has a hotel