Le Corbusier Biography
How Le Corbusier Got his Name
Le Corbusier (Figure 1) was born as Charles-Edouard Jeanneret on October 6, 1887 [2]. He was intrigued by new material, such as concrete in 1908 when working for a concrete company [2]. Charles-Edouard brought his first design into reality, when he created a house for his parents in 1912 [2]. In 1917, Le Corbusier officially moved to Paris. Paris was essential to Charles-Edouard, because he collaborated and created a network with other architectures, artist and inventors of the time [2]. In 1920, Charles-Edouard is inspired to change his name to an artistic name: Le Corbusier [2].
Figure 1: Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, September, 1911. [1]
The Start of Le Corbusier Legacy
In 1922, he opens an architecture company with his cousins and starts the Plan for Three Million in Paris [2].
Figure 2 & 3: Contemporary City of Three Million People, Not located, 1922 [3]
The Plan for Three Million in Paris was a city Le Corbusier had envision. He implemented all of the Modernist ideals when developing his city. Although his city was not brought to life he had key aspects that helped pushed Paris towards Modernism [3]. In this plan for instance, he had skyscraper buildings made out of steel and glass, designated paths for automobiles and pedestrians, and also contained open green space [3]. Le Corbusier’ design included the modernist materials, straight edges, flat roofs, open space, car space, and space for many workers and their families to live [3]. Le Corbusier never brings this urban plan into reality but placed fundamental ideas that would be used in the future around the world.
Le Corbusier's Design Impacts the World
Figure 4: Villa Savoye et loge du jardinier, Poissy, France, 1928. [4]
Le Corbusier continued to work on design and architecture. In 1928, he started to design and a couple years later completed the building: Villa Savoye[4]. Villa Savoye later is one of Le Corbusier’s most recognized modern buildings. Villa Savoye, contained key elements of Le Corbusier’s outlook on design. The building consisted of large walls with big windows, dome shapes, resting on pillars to include the newest technology: the automobile, the flatness, and right angle [4]. Villa Savoye being built brought Le Corbusier vision of simplicity, function, and space of modernism. Modernism then is clean-cut with the newest materials and thinking about the house as a machine [5].
Figure 5: Le Corbusier and Albert Einstein at Princeton, New Jersey, 1946. [6] Figure 6: The collaborators of Le Corbusier in the workshop 35 rue de Sèvres in Paris [6]
Le Corbusier gained much popularity from his Villa Savoye design and is even acknowledged by one the top architecture schools in the world Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany [6]. Bauhaus utilized Le Corbusier’s concepts as Bauhaus University greatly focused their design on modernism [7]. Le Corbusier’s design and perspective was valued in the modernist world and was being taught to future architectures and designers (Figure 6 [6])[7]. This is essential to note, because it speaks to how influential Le Corbusier’s philosophy influenced the foundation of urban and building design. In addition, Le Corbusier collaborated and met several other architecture, artists, and creators such as Picasso and Einstein (Figure 5)[6]. The influence and foundation Le Corbusier placed for modernism was groundbreaking.
Figure 6 & 7: Palais de l'Assemblée, Chandigarh, Inde, 1955. [8]
Le Corbusier continues his work as an architecture in the late 20s and early 60s designing several buildings in Paris, Moscow, and other parts of Europe and the world. Le Corbusier constructed well over 60 buildings. Ranging from Villa Savoye [4] in 1929 to Chandigarh city [8] in 1955. In all his work he sticks to his philosophy of the modernist way of function and style of the buildings. Le Corbusier influenced many countries around the world with his modernist ideals and design.
Figure 8: Le Corbusier in front of the building of the United Nations Secretariat, New York, around 1950 [6] Figure 9: Heidi Weber Museum in Switzerland in 1963. [9]
Le Corbusier continued to work on urban planning and architecture well into his later years in life. The last building he designed was Heidi Weber Museum in Switzerland in 1963 [9]. The building was completed in 1967 after Le Corbusier’s passing[9]. Le Corbusier was passionate and dedicated to his work and his perspective as a modernist. Le Corbusier died in August of 1965[2]. His legacy and impact on the world’s design, architecture, and perspective will always be valued and remembered.
To sum up, Le Corbusier thought highly of the new innovations that were being integrated in everyday life through technology. He consider it to be important as designers and architectures to utilize technologies and create buildings as machines [1]. Thus, Le Corbusier’s buildings were functional and would follow closely of “ less is more” [1]. In the end, he realized the world is ever changing design and other aspects of living must adapt in order to function and flow well.
Figure 10: Charles-Edouard Jeanneret in his apartment Jacob Ave, Paris, 1920.
Resources
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"Biography." Fondation Le Corbusier. Picture 1 . (2018).
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Moos, Stanislaus Von. Le Corbusier. Le Corbusier. Lumen. (1977).
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"Ville contemporaine de trois millions d'habitants." Fondation Le Corbusier. Pictures 2 and 3. (2018).
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"Villa Savoye." Fondation Le Corbusier. Picture 4 . (2018).
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Corbusier, Le. "The City of Tomorrow and its Planning, London: Architectural.-(1925): The Radiant City." (1929).
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"Biography." Fondation Le Corbusier. Picture 4 . (2018).
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Epstein-Pliouchtch, Marina. "Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius: contacts prior to the Second World War." The Journal of Architecture 9, no. 1 (2004): 5-22.
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"Chandigarh." Fondation Le Corbusier. Picture 4 . (2018).
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"List of Le Corbusier Building: Heidi Weber Museum." Wikipedia. (2018).