Le Corbusier

Charles Edouard Jeanneret-

Gris
1887-1965
Le Corbusier
Charles Jeanneret was born in
Switzerland in 1887, and adopted the
name ‘Le Corbusier’ when he became
an architect.
While studying engraving in school, he
was persuaded by his instructor to
switch to architecture.
Although he never completed a degree,
he continued his training with August
Perret, a Parisian architect who was a
pioneer in reinforced concrete
construction.
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He also worked
for several
months in Peter
Behrens’ studio in
1910.
Another major
influence was
travel and the
study of famous
buildings,
especially the
Acropolis in
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In 1917, he settled in Paris and
subsequently wrote Towards a New
Architecture , a statement of his
philosophy and design aesthetic.
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He developed a base for his architecture
which included five points:
 The building should be raised above the
ground on ‘pilotis’ or posts
 The interior should be unrestricted by
supporting walls, which creates a free plan
 Large windows should form a continuous
band on the exterior
 The façade should be one smooth surface
 There should be a terrace or garden the on
roof
Le Corbusier
The architect also
developed a system
of proportion based
on the human form
he called ‘the
Modulor’, which is
graphically
represented here.
All of his buildings
are based on this
system.
Le Corbusier
The Villa Garches
was designed for de
Monzie (Minister of
Culture) in 1927,
and is based on
classical Palladian
rhythms and types,
despite its use
of contemporary
materials.
Notice the bands of
windows and
smooth face of the
building.
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This home and
studio was
designed for artist
Amidé Ozenfant
in the new
International
Style.
The large
expanses of glass
and plain surfaces
are typical of the
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The Villa Savoie is
a
weekend/country
house built at
Poissy between
1929 and 1931.
It expresses all of
Corbusier’s “five
points” and is the
culmination of his
early work.
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The villa is raised
up above the
ground on pilotis,
and consists of a
single living floor
and roof garden.
Walls are white
and the windows
create a
continuous
horizontal band.
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The ramp from
the ground-level
entry rises in two
runs to the main
floor.
The white walls
are carried into
the interior, and
all permanent
surfaces are
neutral.
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The main living
space is
uninterrupted by
structural walls or
columns, and
function is
defined by
furnishings and
built-ins.
The lighting is
indirect
fluorescent in a
long fixture
suspended from
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Another view of the living space shows the
very modern fireplace.
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The circular
staircase begins
at the ground
floor and
continues up to
the roof.
The curves
provide visual
relief from the
severe straight
lines and Cubist
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The bath contains
a built-in chaise
constructed from
mosaic tile, as is
the floor.
It is separated
from the adjacent
space by a glass
wall.
None of the
interior spaces
have doors.
Le Corbusier
Looking in the
opposite
direction, the
sunken tub is
visible, as well as
the view into the
adjacent space.
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The roof is
always an
important part of
Corbu’s designs,
whether for
houses or public
buildings.
He views these
spaces as
additional living
‘rooms’.
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In 1955 Le
Corbusier was
hired to design the
abbey church for a
monastic
community in
Ronchamp, France
(very near
Switzerland) It marks one of the
earliest examples of the
more expressionistic
style he adopted later in
his career.
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The free-
form plan is
a great
departure
from the
rectilinear
International
Style still
popular at
the time.
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The church, Notre Dame du Haute (Our Lady of
the Heights), is built from concrete and the
design creates a strong feeling of shelter and
movement.
The roof actually floats slightly above the top of the
wall, and the gap is filled with glass to allow light to
penetrate into the interior.
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A mural by Joan
Miro is
incorporated into
the entry to the
church.
The expressionist
quality fits into
the
expressiveness of
the building very
well.
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The windows in
the thick walls
are narrow at one
end and wide at
the other, and
most contain
patterned stained
glass.
Light has become
part of the design
and defines
space in a unique
way.
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Looking toward
the altar, the gap
between the walls
and roof can be
seen.
Light changes
throughout the
day and from
season to season.
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The architect was
always interested in
town planning and
multi-use housing.
He designed several
versions of the
Unite’
d’Habitation, this
one constructed in
Marseilles between
1947 and 1952.
Le Corbusier
Made from
reinforced concrete,
it had living space
for 1600 people, a
floor of stores and
shops, a garden on
the roof, and day
care for children.
The building is
supported on pilotis,
and the concrete
grid is designed to
accept pre-fab
apartments “like
bottles in a wine
Le Corbusier
Designed with
Harrison and
Abramovitz, the
United Nations
Secretariat building
houses 3400 office
personnel.
Completed in 1953,
the building is
concrete, stone and
glass over a steel
frame.
Le Corbusier
A completely new
town was designed
for Chandigarh, India
in 1953-1963 and
included both
housing and
public/government
buildings.
The Supreme Court
building is pictured
here.
Le Corbusier
The interior of
the
Chandigarh
General
Assembly is
imposing and
spacious, and
built in the
form of a
circle.
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Most of Le
Corbusier’s furniture
was designed in
collaboration with
Charlotte Perrand for
a specific client or
location.
The Basculant chair
expresses the
modern aesthetic of
minimal decoration
and use of industrial
materials.
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This chaise longue is upholstered in
pony hide. The chaise has a tubular
steel frame that rests on a wooden
base, and can be adjusted to recline.
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The LC chair, or
‘le Grand Confort’
has four
removable
cushions enclosed
in a tubular steel
frame.
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Le Grand Confort was also made in a
love seat and a sofa.
The frame was available in chrome or
enamel.
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The LC7 swivel
chair is an early
design intended
for use with a
desk.
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This glass topped
table is very sleek
and simple.
The separation
between the top
and base is
reminiscent of the
roof at Notre
Dame du Haute.