LECTURER 03

LE CORBUSIER

"The Plan of the Modern House"

The "paralyzed plan" of the masonry house includes the five points of architecture such as free plan, free facade, horizontal windows, pilotis and roof gardens. Le corbusier using these points as the structural basis for most of the architecture until 1950's. In my opinion these five points of architecture are important and useful in design until now we still utilize them. There are a lot of advantages such as open space, flexible in design, offer views surrounding and natural lighting. The five points have contributed to the development of modern architecture greatly even to this day. Due to the five points allowed a wide variety of ideas and possibilities within designing architecture, these characteristic also popular for the housing and commercial building design now. Moreover, how to take the advantages of these new freedoms? I think in terms of efficiency, simple, functionalities and beauty have increased. We could even take the advantages of these new freedoms and gradually developed into more advanced technology like multi-functional and artificial intelligence(AI) in the future.

Five Points of Architecture

The architectural revolution implies different acts such as to classify, to dimension, to circulate, to compose and to proportion. These acts are vital to demonstrate in architecture. For instance, one must classify them accordingly to type and determine the function of each components. In current practice, abundant inventions have produced innumerable new objects and no thought has been given to the subject. This is true that we should find a reason and consider the function of why the object should be placed here, not only with the aesthetic purpose but they should be combined. Besides, I agree with the statement that circulation is everything because architecture is experienced as one roams about in it and walk through it. Good circulation make us have a splendid spatial experience in a space. We could also find the pleasure when living in such house by creating the circulation that re-orient the visitors and enable them to enjoy different experiences about the house.

Chapel of Notre Dame Du Haut: play with different sizes of openings with lighting 

Architect compose the building elements absolutely in architecture. For example, lighting is a good tool to compose it and penetrate in a space by playing with the shadow, shape and different direction. I think composing played a role as how we imagine and put them appropriate in the suitable place then produce a good result and effect. Furthermore, I agree to the theory and idea of Le Corbusier that architecture should work in proportion and organization. When considering proportion, Le Corbusier, he thinks that “proportion provokes sensation” meaning that depending on the use of the space it requires a specific proportion. For example, we have a different experience in a single volume room as compared to the massiveness of a double volume room. The condition of architecture today also quite similar to the ideas from Le Corbusier. The organization architecture today is not only focus to the functioning of the building but also think about the sense and feeling of human from a building.

Unité d'Habitation de Marseille: good proportion and organisation of building

A well-organized house correspond well in space quality also. A well-organized dwelling ensures that all components and the spaces of a function cohesively achieve its goals by having their own purpose and no spaces wasted. When designing today, we can say that proportion and organisation should be considered in order to have control on how the space is design. Without organisation, the whole designing process would be chaotic and the connection between spaces would not be coherent thus not allowing the user to fully experience the building. Thus, both are very important details in order to have a function human habitat as well as a strategy when considering the emotional and experiencing factor of the building. 

In a nutshell, the five methods of classification, of dimensioning, of circulation, of composition and of proportioning have made us have different interpretation in architecture and express different characteristics in each designing plan. I am pretty sure that by combing these five methods when planning design will make the architecture have a good user and visual experience.


Written by Chiew Jing Yi, 1001644071