An analysis of Le Corbusier
An analysis of Le Corbusier’s “Le Villa La Roche-Jeanneret”
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Le Corbusier’s modernist residence which was built in Paris, 1923, has become one of the most widely recognized examples of what could be argued as a residential home, a project often considered as the pivotal point of an architect’s career.
Designing and building a personal dwelling allows the architects freedom to manifest their sense of individuality, and in Corbusier’s case, the opportunity to build the ultimate modernist home with his brother. Corbusier’s house is said to represent many ideologies, but above all, it should be seen as the fundamental home for living. Due to its mythical and modernist features, it questions its functionality as a house and could be seen as a house of study. Although, when designing the house, Corbusier’s initial intentions was for the house to be seen as
“the house is a machine for living”. [Le Corbusier, 1927. Pg 4]
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Before the ‘meaning’ of the house can be argued, the background of the building must be established. Villa La Roche consists of two houses; both which contain the ideas of the modern world. Villa La Roche is located in Square du Docteur Blanche in the southern part of the sixteenth district of Paris, near Bois de Boulogne. It was built during 1923 and 1925 and typically modern in style. The right hand side was built by Corbusier’s brother, whilst the left hand side was built by Corbusier himself for the dwelling of a doctor; both parts of the villa, contain strict languages of modern architecture through the usage of modernist features e.g. the dramatic forms such as concrete flooring, ramps instead of stairs etc.
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Fig 1. An original sketch drawing of the left hand side of the Villa showing the key features of the Villa.
Fig 2. A photograph of the left side of the Villa.
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Architecturally, the villa has many distinct qualities. Materially, it makes use of reinforced concrete, iron, glass and stone (including veneer, brick, cement and so
on)
!
Le Corbusier’s modernist residence which was built in Paris, 1923, has become one of the most widely recognized examples of what could be argued as a residential home, a project often considered as the pivotal point of an architect’s career.
Designing and building a personal dwelling allows the architects freedom to manifest their sense of individuality, and in Corbusier’s case, the opportunity to build the ultimate modernist home with his brother. Corbusier’s house is said to represent many ideologies, but above all, it should be seen as the fundamental home for living. Due to its mythical and modernist features, it questions its functionality as a house and could be seen as a house of study. Although, when designing the house, Corbusier’s initial intentions was for the house to be seen as
“the house is a machine for living”. [Le Corbusier, 1927. Pg 4]
!
Before the ‘meaning’ of the house can be argued, the background of the building must be established. Villa La Roche consists of two houses; both which contain the ideas of the modern world. Villa La Roche is located in Square du Docteur Blanche in the southern part of the sixteenth district of Paris, near Bois de Boulogne. It was built during 1923 and 1925 and typically modern in style. The right hand side was built by Corbusier’s brother, whilst the left hand side was built by Corbusier himself for the dwelling of a doctor; both parts of the villa, contain strict languages of modern architecture through the usage of modernist features e.g. the dramatic forms such as concrete flooring, ramps instead of stairs etc.
!
Fig 1. An original sketch drawing of the left hand side of the Villa showing the key features of the Villa.
Fig 2. A photograph of the left side of the Villa.
!
!
Architecturally, the villa has many distinct qualities. Materially, it makes use of reinforced concrete, iron, glass and stone (including veneer, brick, cement and so
on)