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15. Discuss the use of off-form concrete in the later work of Le Corbusier, referring to at least three buildings completed in the 1950s. Note its first appearance and how its use is developed in the later buildings as well as how this results in differing expression/effect
According to the Jean-Louis Cohen, Le Corbusier is admitted as the most influential architect of the 20th century. Undoubtedly, Le Corbusier represents a turning point in the history of architecture. His radical ideas, designs, and writings, from private villas to grand project all raised a comprehensive reform of the concept of not only a single structures, but entire modern life.1 During the period of early 20th centuries, the concrete is widely regarded as an unfavorable material to determine architectural form.2 However, Le Corbusier always had an interest and passion for concrete; there’s evidence that his nearly 75 projects were built in concrete, even in his first house design, the Villa Fallet, when he only 17 years old in 1907.3 As a loyal lover of concrete, Le Corbusier has brought revolutionary changes to concrete and make it become a high-quality and high use material. Corbusier especially enjoys the natural appearance and texture of the concrete, which reveal the charm of raw and brutal. “They called that ‘the new brutality’”4. And the simplicity and generous feature of concrete also conform to the “purist” artistic movement he pioneered. However, Corbusier keeps developing the way of using concrete through his career. In this essay, I will introduce and contrast three buildings in the 1950s which are the Unité d'habitation in Marseille, Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp and the Palace of Assembly in Chandigarh to illustrate the how the concrete use is developed through the 1950s and how this results in the differing effect.
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COHEN JEAN-LOUIS. LE CORBUSIER. (AU:Taschen GmbH , 2015) p. Title page. Moos, Stanislaus von. Le Corbusier: Elements of a Synthesis (Rotterdam [The Netherlands] : 010 Publishers,
2009.) p.79 3 "Le Corbusier's Love for Concrete." Concrete International(03, 2015): 38-39. http://search.proquest.com.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au/docview/1660480903?accountid=12372. 4 "Le Corbusier's Love for Concrete." Concrete International(03, 2015): 38-39. http://search.proquest.com.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au/docview/1660480903?accountid=12372. 4 Flora Samuel. Le Corbusier in Detail.(Amsterdam : Architectural/Elsevier, 2007). p.19 1
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Figure1: The facade of the Unité d'habitation5
After the Second World War, in order to alleviate the housing shortage situation in Europe, at the minister of reconstruction of Marseille’s invitation, one of the world 's most remarkable apartments, the Unité d'habitation was constructed6 Structurally, the Unité d'habitation emergence a further manifestation of Corbusier’s “five points”.7
Figure2: The concrete pillar underneath the building8
Concrete pillars were supporting the building up and leaving the space underneath for circulation pedestrian and parking for car and bicycle.9 The facade and load-bearing structure of the Unité d'habitation made by off-form concrete. Unpolished reinforced concrete surface exposed, which endowed the sense of strong, rough, brutal, but still Unknown. “Lecorbusier, the Unité d'habitation, Marseille, 1946-52.”A world history of architecture, Moffett, Marian(Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2004.), P.528. 6 Moffett, Marian. A world history of architecture. (Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2004). p.528 7 Le Corbusier. Towards a new architecture / by Le Corbusier ; translated from the thirteenth French edition and with an introduction by Frederick Etchells.(New York : Dover Publications, 1986.) p. 230 8 Le Corbusier. Towards a new architecture / by Le Corbusier ; translated from the thirteenth French edition and with an introduction by Frederick Etchells.(New York : Dover Publications, 1986.) p. 230 8 : Unknown, The concrete pillar underneath the building, 2010. http://www.archdaily.com/85971/ad-classics-unite-d-habitation-le-corbusier 9 "Brutalist buildings: Unité d'Habitation, Marseille by Le Corbusier," Amy Frearson, dezeen, 2014, https://www.dezeen.com/2014/09/15/le-corbusier-unite-d-habitation-cite-radieuse-marseille-brutalist-architecture/ 5
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simple and generous because of its regular arrangement and it brise-soleil formed facade of the whole building structure.10 In fact, the rough appearance of the facade is the result that Corbusier’s deliberately produced. He tried to combine these "rude" with the exquisite design of the interior space and the modern construction techniques, creating a strong aesthetics contrast. Furthermore, from the design aspects, Le Corbusier conceived this work as elements of an ideal city he called “The Radiant City.” The “The Radiant City” in his mind is composed of residential units and public facilities. Moreover, In his opinion that the residential building with service facilities should be a basic unit of the modern city called “standard housing unit.”11 Corbusier’s various ideas of modern architecture, especially the consideration of relationship people and public result in the unity of modern architecture and human needs. Internally, the elevator stops only on every third floor,12 and the “mid air street” which cut through the whole building from east to west only situated on every third floor.13 Therefore we could determine that the Unité d'habitation separates the dynamic space and static space by each three floors. Moreover, the 7th and 8th floor contained public facilities such as “grocery store, beauty shop and repair services, etc.”14
Figure3: The roof spcae15
The roof levels with extensive recreational and health care facilities: a “gymnasium, running track, movie theater, health club and nursery school and sun terraces”.16 Through the ramp to reach roof garden, a large area of the roof with good light and ventilation is a fantastic place for outdoor activity for children.17 Therefore, in Unité d'habitation, residents can make contact with the society and also nature. People can possess their life, and everything they need without go outside, which perfectly reflect 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
JEAN-LOUIS. p.58 JEAN-LOUIS. p57 Marian. p.528 JEAN-LOUIS. p59 Marian. p.528 Unknown,The roof space, 2010. http://www.archdaily.com/85971/ad-classics-unite-d-habitation-le-corbusier Marian. p.528 JEAN-LOUIS. P.59 3
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the strong willing of people escaping from the war. In my opinion, the use of off-form concrete in this building is not only to present the “brutalism” through the facade of the building but also the great functionalism by its extraordinary idea of “housing unit” and exquisite interior design. Furthermore, it also embodied rationalism that Corbusier always did. As Stanislaus states that “once applied under the conditions of the economy, reinforced concrete proved capable of producing better structural results with less material bulk than any previously known material”.18 The Unité d'habitation as a huge building with 1600 residents must consider the aspects of the economy. Concrete provided the best quality for achieving massive structure and reduced the cost.
Figure 4: The over view of Notre-Dame-du-Haut19
The Church of Notre-Dame-du-Haut was constructed in 1955, located on the Bourlemont hill, the last spur of the Vosges range.20 The church is resembled to a fabulous sculpture, attracting people's attention. The Notre-Dame-du-Haut is the most remarkable building among the modern architecture after the Second World War, and also the most unique work in Corbusier’s life. It represents the change of Corbusier’s design style from the rationalism and minimalism to the irrationalism and expressionism.21 Contrast to the Unité d'habitation, the use of concrete in this building is completely different. Firstly, Corbusier put emphasis on the shape of the building and the experience that the shape could offer to people rather than the Stanislaus von. p.79 Unknown. “The over view of Notre-Dame-du-Haut”,Le Corbusier et son atelier, rue de Sèvres 35 : oeuvrecomplète 1952 - 1957. Le Corbuseier. (Zurich : Ed. Girsberger, 1957) , p.16. 20 JEAN-LOUIS. P.65 21 Stanislaus von. p.249 18 19
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exquisite functional interior design. Moreover, he abandoned the traditional model of the church and technique of the modern architecture, Notre-Dame-du-Haut was treated as a concrete sculpture and pushing the limits of the expressive potential of the concrete.22
Figure 5: The south wall of Notre-Dame-du-Haut23
The surface of the curved concrete wall covered with "gunite” and the gray upturned curved fair-faced concrete roof as well as three light towers sit on the top, formatting a strong contrast in both color and form.24 Secondly, from the aspects of lighting technique over the concrete facade, the slant opening with different angles and irregular shape punched in the buttress-shaped south wall. These openings allow the light go across the wall scattered with different angles and patterns rather than the regular arrangement of the windows. Structurally, The primary load-bearing structure of this church is the concrete column and beam system.25 Although the south wall is thicker and more tapered than other walls, it is not a load bearing structure.26 Compare to the Unité d'habitation, except the concrete pillars system supporting the building; the concrete wall also has the load-bearing function. Moreover, the amazing shape of the roof was inspired by the crab’s shell. In 1947, Corbusier discovered an "Le Corbusier's Love for Concrete." Concrete International(03, 2015): 38-39. http://search.proquest.com.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au/docview/1660480903?accountid=12372. 23 Rory Hyde, The south wall of Notre-Dame-du-Haut, 2010. http://www.archdaily.com/85971/ad-classics-unite-d-habitation-le-corbusier 24 Le Corbusier. Le Corbusier et son atelier, rue de Sèvres 35 : oeuvrecomplète 1952 - 1957.(Zurich : Ed. Girsberger, 1957), p. 18 25 Marian, p.529 26 JEAN-LOUIS. P.65 22
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empty crab’s shell in long island beach, and it was found that the shell was strong enough to stand on his feet.27 Corbusier was attracted by this shape and lent to the roof structure, and this crab’s shell form also correspond to the surrounding landscape.A clearly contrast to the Unité d'habitation’ s large area with comprehensive recreational and healthy care function roof area.
Figure 6: The lighting effect of Notre-Dame-du-Haut28
Furthermore, there is a slot in between the roof and wall, and the roof sits on the hidden column. “The shell will rest on these columns, but it will not touch the wall”.29 The slot allows extra light get into the building from the gap between the roof and wall thus enhanced the lighting of internal space. Meanwhile, free the internal space with more spaciousness and sense of depth. “The idea was adapted in the form of periscopic lights shafts capturing the sunlight and spilling it over the cavern-like apses and the altars of the three-sided chapel”.30 Another reason of the complexed curved shape is that Le Corbusier intentionally created the theme of acoustic parabolas for this building. Through the voice to achieve communication channels between believer and God. Therefore, the curved concrete wall especially the east wall was designed to reflect the sound from the outside altar for the pilgrims gathered on the hill. Oppositely, the use of concrete in Unité d'habitation is about sound insulation in order to create the personal living space.
JEAN-LOUIS. P.65 Unknown. “The lighting effect of Notre-Dame-du-Haut”. ,Le Corbusier et son atelier, rue de Sèvres 35 : oeuvrecomplète 1952 - 1957. Le Corbuseier. (Zurich : Ed. Girsberger, 1957) , p.36. 29 .Le Corbusier. p. 18 30 Stanislaus von. p.122. 27 28
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Figure 7: The overview of the Palace of Assembly in Chandigarh31
The Palace of Assembly in Chandigarh is one of the most prominent Corbusier’s building from India. This building seemingly absorbed different concrete expressive technique from two previous buildings and combined them together. First of all, there is only one single material is employed: naked reinforced concrete.32 Due to the situation of India lack of the modern resources, the construction process was very labor intensive.33 Therefore, the concrete is the best way to solve the construction issue and economically the most cost effect material. Moreover, the naked and unprocessed surface of the reinforced concrete gives the building an “ancient quality” and continue to bring the charm of brutalism to the building. Resemble the Unité d'habitation also used naked concrete as the surface of the facade to shows its beauty of brutalism and considered the economic issue and choose the concrete as the main material for constructing the building. Structurally, the idea, “five points” were used in the open plan design of the Palace of Assembly. “An expanded Villa Savoye”.34 Square plan and the horizontal rectilinear structure with a monumental front portico,35 which is also similar to the Unité d'habitation. Moreover, the Palace of Assembly used the same brise-soleil form facade as the Unité d'habitation to shade and protect the interior of the three office buildings and also expressed the sense of simple and generous.
Unknown, The overview of the Palace of Assembly in Chandigarh, 2003. http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~kcoleman/Precedents/ALL%20PDFs/Corbusier_Chandigarh.pdf 32 Chandigarh Legislative Assembly Building, Evita Moussalli & Tiffany Criss, University of Southern California School of Architecture, 2003 http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~kcoleman/Precedents/ALL%20PDFs/Corbusier_Chandigarh.pdf 33 Chandigarh Legislative Assembly Building, Evita Moussalli & Tiffany Criss, University of Southern California School of Architecture, 2003 http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~kcoleman/Precedents/ALL%20PDFs/Corbusier_Chandigarh.pdf 34 JEAN-LOUIS. P.79 35 AD Classics: Palace of the Assembly / Le Corbusier, Igor Fracalossi, Archidaily,2011 http://www.archdaily.com/155922/ad-classics-ad-classics-palace-of-the-assembly-le-corbusier 31
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Figure 8: The three elements on the roof36
Figure 9: The inverted shell roof37
The most outstanding form of the building is the roof structure. There are three elements on the roof which are Hyperboloid, the pyramid, and the lifts tower. And also a roof with an inverted shell form sits on a row of slender pilotis and overhanging over the portico. These sculptural elements with its unique shape broke the consistency of the whole building’s silhouette. However, correlated to the jagged form of the surrounding mountains.38 This point is pretty similar to the Church of Notre-Dame-du-Haut which also have a concrete roof structure with an amazing sculptural form and corresponds to the surrounding landscape. Meanwhile, there are three openings in the hyperboloid sculpture form on the roof, those openings allow the light penetrate into the assembly hall on particular days.39 Compare to the Unknown, The three elements on the roof, 2003. http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~kcoleman/Precedents/ALL%20PDFs/Corbusier_Chandigarh.pdf 37 Unknown, The inverted shell roof, 2003. http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~kcoleman/Precedents/ALL%20PDFs/Corbusier_Chandigarh.pdf 38 AD Classics: Palace of the Assembly / Le Corbusier, Igor Fracalossi, Archidaily,2011 http://www.archdaily.com/155922/ad-classics-ad-classics-palace-of-the-assembly-le-corbusier 39 Chandigarh Legislative Assembly Building, Evita Moussalli & Tiffany Criss, University of Southern California School of Architecture, 2003 http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~kcoleman/Precedents/ALL%20PDFs/Corbusier_Chandigarh.pdf 36
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Notre-Dame-du-Haut, there are three light towers play the role of the skylight and leading the light into the internal building. Furthermore, the inverted shell roof is separated to the main part of the building and providing shade and protection from sun and rain.40 As I mentioned before, there is no contact between the main structure building and the inverted shell roof. The gap in between effectively accelerates the convection and the heat dissipation of the roof, but also to prevent heat conduction to the main building.41
In conclusion, the use of the off-form concrete is different in between the building of Unité d'habitation and the Notre Dame du Haut. And the Palace of Assembly seemingly combined these techniques. These different ways of using concrete we created various effect and expression of the building. The Unité d'habitation is the first building that used the naked unprocessed concrete surface as the facade of the building. And it is also the start of the great “brutalism”. The rough and brutal appearance of the building formed a strong contrast with the exquisite functional interior design. Moreover, the brise-soleil structural facade gives the building simple, generous sense while providing shades to the individual apartment. Structurally, the building continues used Corbusier’s “five points” as the spirit of the building. Exquisite interior design, and the excellent idea of “The Radiant City” and “Standard House Unit” endowed the concrete more practical value. Compare with the the Notre Dame du Haut which entirely abandoned the traditional mode of construction. Corbusier starts to focus on expressionism and trying to push the limit of the expressive potential of the concrete. The concrete wall is no more straight and regular, but different curved and buttress-shaped with irregular slant opening. Moreover, the concrete wall is no longer the load-bearing structure, replaced by the load-bearing concrete columns and beams structural system. The upturned crab’s shell roof sit on this columns without touch with the concrete wall. The unique shape of the building created the theme of acoustic parabolas. The curved concrete wall primarily was designed to reflect the sound from the outside altar for the pilgrims gathered on the hill. As for the Palace of Assembly used both its technique, this building contains the “five points” spirits and brutal naked concrete surface and the brise-soleil structural facade, and also absorbed the nutrition of the expressionism. The sculptural free-form elements on the roof not only brings energy to the conventional building structure and correspond to the surrounding landscape but also provide great functions such as shading and lighting.
AD Classics: Palace of the Assembly / Le Corbusier, Igor Fracalossi, Archidaily,2011 http://www.archdaily.com/155922/ad-classics-ad-classics-palace-of-the-assembly-le-corbusier 41 Chandigarh Legislative Assembly Building, Evita Moussalli & Tiffany Criss, University of Southern California School of Architecture, 2003 http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~kcoleman/Precedents/ALL%20PDFs/Corbusier_Chandigarh.pdf 40
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Bibliography Moos, Stanislaus von. Le Corbusier: Elements of a Synthesis. Rotterdam [The Netherlands] : 010 Publishers, 2009. Le Corbusier. Towards a new architecture / by Le Corbusier ; translated from the thirteenth French edition and with an introduction by Frederick Etchells. New York : Dover Publications, 1986. Flora Samuel. Le Corbusier in Detail. Amsterdam : Architectural/Elsevier, 2007. Moffett, Marian. A world history of architecture. Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2004. Le Corbusier. Le Corbusier et son atelier, rue de Sèvres 35 : oeuvrecomplète 1952 1957. Zurich : Ed. Girsberger, 1957 COHEN JEAN-LOUIS. LE CORBUSIER. AU:Taschen GmbH , 2015 Ivanković, Vedran. "REINFORCED CONCRETE AND CONCRETE PREFABRICATION CONCEPT IN LE CORBUSIER'S SCOPE OF WORK CONDO BUILDING IN MARSEILLES 1945-1952." Central Bank Of Trinidad & Tobago Annual Report (July 2009): 63. Minuchin, Leandro. "Material Politics: Concrete Imaginations and the Architectural Definition of Urban Life in Le Corbusier's Master Plan for Buenos Aires." International Journal Of Urban & Regional Research 37, no. 1 (January 2013): 238-258. "Le Corbusier's Love for Concrete." Concrete International(03, 2015): 38-39. http://search.proquest.com.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au/docview/1660480903?accountid=1 2372. "Brutalist buildings: Unité d'Habitation, Marseille by Le Corbusier," Amy Frearson, dezeen, 2014, https://www.dezeen.com/2014/09/15/le-corbusier-unite-d-habitation-cite-radieuse-ma rseille-brutalist-architecture/ AD Classics: Palace of the Assembly / Le Corbusier, Igor Fracalossi, Archidaily,2011 http://www.archdaily.com/155922/ad-classics-ad-classics-palace-of-the-assembly-le-c orbusier
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Chandigarh Legislative Assembly Building, Evita Moussalli & Tiffany Criss, University of Southern California School of Architecture, 2003 http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~kcoleman/Precedents/ALL%20PDFs/Corbusier_Chandigarh. pdf
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Image List Figure 1: Unknown. “Lecorbusier, the Unité d'habitation, Marseille, 1946-52.”A world history of architecture, Moffett, Marian. P.528. Boston : McGraw-Hill, c2004. Figure 2: Unknown, The concrete pillar underneath the building, 2010. http://www.archdaily.com/85971/ad-classics-unite-d-habitation-le-corbusier (accessed May 2, 2017) Figure 3: Unknown,The roof space, 2010. http://www.archdaily.com/85971/ad-classics-unite-d-habitation-le-corbusier (accessed May 2, 2017) Figure 4: Unknown. “The over view of Notre-Dame-du-Haut”, Le Corbusier et son atelier, rue de Sèvres 35 : oeuvrecomplète 1952 - 1957, Le Corbusier. p.16. Zurich : Ed. Girsberger, 1957 Figure 5: Rory Hyde, The south wall of Notre-Dame-du-Haut, 2010. http://www.archdaily.com/85971/ad-classics-unite-d-habitation-le-corbusier (accessed May 2, 2017) Figure 6: Unknown. “The lighting effect of Notre-Dame-du-Haut”. Le Corbusier et son atelier, rue de Sèvres 35 : oeuvrecomplète 1952 - 1957, Le Corbusier. P.36. Zurich : Ed. Girsberger, 1957 Figure 7: Unknown, The overview of the Palace of Assembly in Chandigarh, 2003. http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~kcoleman/Precedents/ALL%20PDFs/Corbusier_Chandigarh. pdf (accessed May 2, 2017)
Figure 8: Unknown, The three elements on the roof, 2003. http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~kcoleman/Precedents/ALL%20PDFs/Corbusier_Chandigarh. pdf (accessed May 2, 2017)
Figure 9: Unknown, The inverted shell roof, 2003. http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~kcoleman/Precedents/ALL%20PDFs/Corbusier_Chandigarh. pdf (accessed May 2, 2017)
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