Le Corbusier’s architecture: 10 iconic structures

March 12,长沙U币支付透明 2025  17:15

Over half a century ago, Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier—born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris—called for a radical transformation in architecture. Even today, his ideas remain as groundbreaking as they were decades ago. Widely regarded as the 20th century’s most influential yet polarizing architect, he was a passionate writer, art theorist, sculptor, furniture designer, and painter whose works sparked both awe and debate. His legacy fundamentally reshaped architecture and the very appearance of the modern world.

Le Corbusier stands as a true pioneer. He forged a new architectural language that broke decisively with the past. Echoing Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s mantra “less is more,” he eschewed excessive ornamentation, embracing minimalist forms, asymmetry, horizontal volumes, and open floor plans. He prioritized natural light and favored a muted palette of white and shades of gray. Among the first to champion industrial materials like concrete, steel, and glass, he redefined what buildings could be.

Here are 10 of his most emblematic creations:

National Museum of Western Art (1957–1959, Tokyo, Japan)
Le Corbusier’s sole work in Southeast Asia, this museum was designed using his “Modulor” system, based on human body proportions, blending functionality with harmony.

Chapel of Notre-Dame du Haut (1950–1955, Ronchamp, France)
A departure from strict functionalism, this sculptural chapel features a wave-like roof and asymmetrical windows, built atop the ruins of a pilgrimage site.

Sainte Marie de La Tourette Monastery (1953–1960, France)
A Dominican monastery defined by brutalist concrete surfaces, sharp geometry, and bold color contrasts—a spiritual fortress in form.

Berlin Housing Complex (1956–1957, Germany)
Social housing for 530 apartments, this “living unit” embodies Le Corbusier’s vision of a self-contained city within a single building.

Villa La Roche (1923–1925, Paris, France)
His first showcase of the “Five Points of Architecture”—pilotis (columns), flat roof terrace, open plan, ribbon windows, and a free facade—this home doubles as a gallery for collector Raoul La Roche.

Villa Savoye (1929–1931, Poissy, France)
A modernist manifesto, this countryside retreat floats on pilotis with panoramic windows and a rooftop terrace, seamlessly blending into its natural surroundings.

Palace of Assembly (1951–1962, Chandigarh, India)
Part of Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex, this raw concrete structure is enlivened by vibrant, contrasting facade elements.

Heidi Weber Pavilion (1963–1967, Zurich, Switzerland)
Le Corbusier’s final project swaps concrete for glass, steel, and vivid enameled panels—a colorful capstone to his career.

Saint-Pierre Church, Firminy (1971–1975, 2003–2006, France)
Completed posthumously, this concrete pyramid-shaped church features windows that project the Orion constellation inside.

Firminy Cultural Center (1961–1965, France)
A futuristic structure with a curved concrete roof, it integrates into the landscape of a former coal quarry.