Could you imagine Le Corbusier himself standing right here? He was not just an architect. He was also an urbanist a painter and a sculptor. This Le Corbusier Sculpture embodies his multifaceted genius.
Le Corbusier made a major impact on the 20th century. He sought a purer architectural style. He founded Purism. He theorized about urban planning.
Let’s delve into Le Corbusier’s world of sculpture. After 1945 Le Corbusier collaborated with Joseph Savina. Savina was a Breton cabinetmaker. They created sculptures together.
Le Corbusier imagined the sculptures. He often based them on his paintings and drawings. He conceived the shapes. Then he sent his sketches to Joseph Savina. Savina put them into volume.
Le Corbusier wanted sculptures that were assembled not modeled. Savina crafted the sculptures. He used a single block of wood. Some sculptures resulted from assembling several elements. Le Corbusier himself handled the polychromy.
Their collaboration birthed forty-four sculptures. These sculptures borrowed from ancient arts. They incorporated what Le Corbusier called the great basic colors. He saw them as eternal colors.
Besides his work with Savina Le Corbusier also explored glassmaking. In 1952 he responded to orders from Murano glassmakers. These sculptures used cast and cut glass. They were not blown.
Consider Le Corbusier’s impact beyond sculpture. In the 1920s he designed private residences in Paris. They are known as his white purist houses. These homes showcased his Five Points towards a New Architecture.
These points included a free facade open-plan interiors and ribbon windows. Flat roofs served as gardens. Pilotis lifted buildings above the ground. Maison La Roche exemplifies his approach.
Le Corbusier often collaborated with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret. They designed structures for different clients. One house was for a family. The other was for a bachelor. This bachelor owned a modern art collection.
Maison La Roche became an experimental home. Architects writers and artists visited it. They left their signatures in the visitor’s book. Le Corbusier split the space in two. One part was for domestic activities. The other was for an art gallery.
Le Corbusier employed an architectural promenade. This concept guides visitors through the building. It creates a theatrical experience. A curved ramp connects the art gallery and library. It directs visitors. It orchestrates a unique perspective.
Le Corbusier also introduced polychromatic color schemes. He used shades of gray blue and Sienna. These colors either suppressed or magnified architectural volumes. This approach synthesized art and architecture.
Maison La Roche-Jeanneret is now a museum. It is operated by the Fondation Le Corbusier. It stands as a testament to Le Corbusier’s vision. He sought to blend functionality with artistic expression.
As you stand before this Le Corbusier Sculpture remember his words. “To be modern is not a fashion it is a state.” His legacy endures in every line and form. It bridges the past the present and the future.