Assigned villa: Villa Savoye, Le Corbusier, 1929-31
Research
a) Images
Source: Author unknown 2006, Architypes.net - Villa Savoye, Sponsor unknown, viewed: 17th March 2008, http://architypes.net/place/villa-savoye.
b) Critical Writings
Source: Camille Chami 2007,Archinnovations - Le Corbusier and Villa Savoye Remembered, Sponsor unknown, viewed: 18th March 2008, http://www.archinnovations.com/articles/editorials/le-corbusier-and-villa-savoye/.
- 1920s 'International Style' emerging - stripped the building of its ornament and focued on its volume and architectural space.
Machine age - new construction of concrete, steel and industrial galzing to create an interesting interactuoin of solid concrete and steel with the lighter glass.
- Le Corbusier's new language:
- Play of light on these primary geometric forms.
- The exterior as the result of the interior
- Site is surrounded by trees on 3 sides.
- Approach to the house best experieneced by a car passanger - the house reveals itself as a grand white box on pilotis. As car travels closer to the house you gradually explore the project.
- 'Promenade Architecturale' - Perception of space and elements surronding it changes
progressively depending on their location in space and time within the project.
- From the outside the building is first percieved framed by the landscape and now the landscape is framed by the building - Unite building and its landscape.
- 1920s 'International Style' emerging - stripped the building of its ornament and focued on its volume and architectural space.
Machine age - new construction of concrete, steel and industrial galzing to create an interesting interactuoin of solid concrete and steel with the lighter glass.
- Le Corbusier's new language:
- Play of light on these primary geometric forms.
- The exterior as the result of the interior
- Site is surrounded by trees on 3 sides.
- Approach to the house best experieneced by a car passanger - the house reveals itself as a grand white box on pilotis. As car travels closer to the house you gradually explore the project.
- 'Promenade Architecturale' - Perception of space and elements surronding it changes
progressively depending on their location in space and time within the project.
- From the outside the building is first percieved framed by the landscape and now the landscape is framed by the building - Unite building and its landscape.
Source: Le Corbusier, 1984, Villa Savoye & Other Buildings and Projects, 1929-1930, Garland Pubishing Inc. & Foundation Le Corbusier, Paris, New York & London.
- 'The house is a box in the air, pierced al around without interruption, by a long window'.
- Subtle Ramp that takes you to the first floor (living quarters) with a courtyard distributing
light. The ramp the continues to the roof and solarium.
- Modern - flat roof, roof garden, terrace as an extension of the living area.
- Living functions on the first floor are 'classified'
NW (views) - salon
NE - Services
SW - Sun trap terrace
SE - Bedrooms
- Ground floor dimensions match the turning circle of a large car
- Villa Savoye as a "free design"
- 'The house is a box in the air, pierced al around without interruption, by a long window'.
- Subtle Ramp that takes you to the first floor (living quarters) with a courtyard distributing
light. The ramp the continues to the roof and solarium.
- Modern - flat roof, roof garden, terrace as an extension of the living area.
- Living functions on the first floor are 'classified'
NW (views) - salon
NE - Services
SW - Sun trap terrace
SE - Bedrooms
- Ground floor dimensions match the turning circle of a large car
- Villa Savoye as a "free design"
Source: Colquhoun, A, 2002, Modern Architecture, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
- Le Corbusier published his 'Five points for a New Architecture' denoting rules of a new
architectural system:
a) pilotis - raise building above ground (creates space underneath)
b) roof garden - pitched -> flat roof - bring landscape into the house.
c) free plan - use frame construction instead of load bearing walls.
d) ribbon windows - let in light.
e) free facade
- Interior of villa is free and asymmetrical
- Solid volume opened up wherever possible by cubes of air, strip windows.
- Le Corbusier published his 'Five points for a New Architecture' denoting rules of a new
architectural system:
a) pilotis - raise building above ground (creates space underneath)
b) roof garden - pitched -> flat roof - bring landscape into the house.
c) free plan - use frame construction instead of load bearing walls.
d) ribbon windows - let in light.
e) free facade
- Interior of villa is free and asymmetrical
- Solid volume opened up wherever possible by cubes of air, strip windows.
Source: Curtis, W, 1986, Le Corbusier: Ideas & Forms, Phaidon Press Ltd, London.
- Pristine health house open to light, sun ad views of greenary.
- Paradigm of modernism AND reinforces classical values through its symbolic geometry.
- White colour stands out against greenary.
- Square plan ('ideal' form), curves, ramp and grid structure.
- As one enters they are faced with the ramp --> 'rising up into an illuminated realm'.
- Very open site.
- Horizontal in emphasis, supported on rows of pilotis and crowned by curved forms.
- The square, the grid, the axis, frontal plane, drama of exterior and interior spaces, volumes and surfaces.
- Pristine health house open to light, sun ad views of greenary.
- Paradigm of modernism AND reinforces classical values through its symbolic geometry.
- White colour stands out against greenary.
- Square plan ('ideal' form), curves, ramp and grid structure.
- As one enters they are faced with the ramp --> 'rising up into an illuminated realm'.
- Very open site.
- Horizontal in emphasis, supported on rows of pilotis and crowned by curved forms.
- The square, the grid, the axis, frontal plane, drama of exterior and interior spaces, volumes and surfaces.
