Spat: Corbusier updated copy

Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris was born in Switzerland in 1887. He was a zany kind of fellow. So zany in fact that at some point in the 20's he decided to start going by the name Le Corbusier (meaning "The Raven" in French). In addition to developing his self-inflicted bird name, Le Corbusier also created houses as a means of survival. As an architect, he lived by five general Utopian-type rules that you will learn morn about as you meander through this exhibit. The imagery on the walls will reflect a Bird's eye view of his five points, and the iPad provided for you will show you examples of reality.

Roof Garden:


The roof gardens for Le Corbusier were not merely gardens, but mini paradises that existed for a multitude of reasons. Having a garden on the roof returned any space that was lost when the building was created. Since the houses were constructed with concrete (which can crack due to prolonged exposure to heat and dry climates) the gardens were lined with a layer of sand. The sand helped trap moisture against the concrete and kept the roof from ultimately tumbling in on unsuspecting residents. 


Ribbon Windows: 


Who wouldn't want sunlight careening about an entire room? For Le Corbusier, the more light, the better. After experimenting for a while, he discovered that horizontal bands of windows allowed for eight-times better illumination. We don't know how he came to this conclusion, or why it is true, but then again we stopped asking questions long ago.


Supports:

Pilotis (no that's not the French term for a really, really strong guy) are the architectural reference to supporting columns, or piers, in Le Corbusier's utopian world. The support's strength comes from the german engineering of reinforced concrete. Le Corbusier lifted the bulk of the structure off the ground, supporting it by these pilotis. The hyperbolic strength, in providing the structural support for the house, allowed him to elucidate his next two points: the free facade and open floor plan.

Free Design of the Ground Plan:

The absence of supporting walls means that the house is unrestrained in its internal usage and can contract or expand as it needs to, much like a balloon. The pilotis make it possible to have an endless amount of space for domestic interiors. Le Corbusier originally saw this solution as a way to break claustrophobia and make you feel the free and open horizons of space in the comfort of your own dwellings. With supporting pilotis, the interior walls are completely up to the proprietor and lets customization occur for business, domestic, or utopian use all around. This is an area where you can get caught up in the details, or you'll be lost in Le Corbusier of modular balloon of expansion.

Free Design of the Facade:

By projecting the floor beyond the supporting pillars, like a balcony all round the building, the whole facade is extended beyond the supporting construction. Le Corbusier designed the supports for his buildings in such a way that the structures are not dependant upon the exterior walls. This allows for the design of the facade to become a strictly aesthetic experience. One can add or remove pieces as easily as if it were a Mr. Potato head.