Bowen LIU, 783990, ABPL30050_2017_SM1, Anna Louise Hooper, Tutorial 11
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