Le Corbusier : Plan of A Modern House

We seek for perfection, for an ideal but as we get to a simpler and simpler structure are we losing ourselves and growing without progress?

How is the masonry house plan a handicap? Paralyzed in what sense, maybe it’s because it was too much of an empty body, a hollow soul. But through that emptiness we have the option and the freedom of a more considerate design for dwellings.

The “modern plan” is utilizing our current technology to its fullest but have free and wide spaces, with more and more openings, to give indoor spaces more life, a connection to the outside world. We are tools as we are the current and future users of the plan, the role we play to be present in the space and know how the architecture is effecting us physically and emotionally. Keep questioning. Why? What? How?

But as tools creating more tools (invention) it could be for lazy convenience we mass produced waste, from resources to spaces.  Space need to be able to accommodate those massive screens that capture moving images and a hot machine that creates ice.

Modern life has many factors to consider, is it necessary? Are we too scared of not being prepared or are we just too good at being human?

Proportion and organization is vital and massively plays big role in our planning for comfort. It gives a sense of sensibility towards the users and designers. The world of balance and proportion is so wide and diverse that there's many more to learn. 

(as you can see I'm playing with odd propotions XD)
Gwendolyn Chan Mei Yee 1001749034

THE PLAN OF THE MODERN HOUSE, LE CORBUSIER,

Figure 1: Plan of Villa Savoye in Poissy, France.

"The plan of the modern house" by Le Corbusier is a text which talks about the Modern Architecture by following the "Five points of Architecture" that developed by him. The Five points of architecture are a list of provided elements that need to be incorporated in the design. The five points are raised structure, free facade, open floor plan, ribbon windows and rooftop garden. All these elements can be found in Le Corbusier's work, Villa Savoye in Poissy, France.

Figure 2: Facade of Villa Savoye 

From the Villa Savoye, the raised structure element we can find it elevated from the ground and supported by reinforced concrete stilts. The stilts provide support to the dwelling. Then, the free facade is that the structural support of the stilts allows the non-supporting walls that can assist the architect's design what he wants. Same as the facade, the open floor plan made by the supporting stilts system. The open space lets the architect free to form into rooms or re-purpose to fit some design. From figure 2, we can see the long ribbon windows on the first floor that allow wide views of the surrounding. Besides the views, the ribbon windows also allow the large amount of natural lighting into the interior spaces. The fifth point is the rooftop garden designed to replace the land of the ground floor area which used to be the green area. The idea is to move the green area from ground to the roof.

Figure 3: The rooftop garden of Villa Savoye.

"To create architecture is to put in order. Put what in order? Function and objects " - Le Corbusier. Le Corbusier's organisation and proportion of a modern house or building are quite different from others such as Palladio. Le Corbusier's organisation is based on a lifestyle standpoint, the establishment of a modern house for living and function. Therefore, the circulation of the house also an important point in his house planning. For the proportion, he discusses more on how people feel the proportion and the one must able to judge the proportion. “Proportion provokes sensation” - Le Corbusier. Le Corbusier's theory for the organisation and proportion of the space can be defined by asymmetry, elevation and diffusion.

Le Corbusier was known as a pioneer of modern architecture. His view of the architecture is always so unique than other architects which can be seen from the Le Modular. Because of the unique, not all accept his ideas but undeniable that he is one of the most contributions architects in the architecture world. 

LE CORBUSIER, "THE PLAN OF THE MODERN HOUSE"

  Basically there were 5 main points in Le Corbusier's theory for plan of a modern house. In addition to that there were mainly 5 elements which revolves around his design. The elements are, "Pilotis"- in which the building is raised up on reinforced concrete pylons (Pilotis) to allow free circulation on ground level. "The Roof Terrace"- a garden on the roof. "The Free Plan"- load-bearing walls are substitute with a steel or reinforced concrete columns, so the interior can be freely designed, and interior walls can place anywhere, or left out entirely. Hence, the structure of the building is not visible on the facade of the building. "Ribbon Window"-Since the walls do not carry the load of the house, the windows can run the entire length of the house, hence all rooms can get equal amount of natural light. And "Free Facade"- Since the building is supported by columns in the interior, the facade can be much lighter and more open, or even made entirely of glass. There is no need for lintels or other structure around the windows.

   The 1st main points in Le Corbusier's theory is to identify between the biological and aesthetic experience or appearance of a building. Its basically using our 5 common senses of how we identity the mood(emotion) of a building. We need to consider the dwellers comfort in therms of sight, thermal comfort etc.

   Next, Le Corbusier ignites the idea of to dimensions the spaces within the dwellings and to find a suitable site for it. This has change the perspective of surveying the site first and to dimesion the spaces later. This is because Le Corbusier believe that a dwelling should serve the dweller"s purpose.

  Le Corbusier emphasize a lot on circulations too. He believes a well planned circulation eliminates wasted space. When he explains circulation, he actually guides the reader to walk through his imagination of a circulation in which one must also practice while designing-to walk through the design as if you will be the user.

   To compose-to persuade oneself of the existance of certain things. Le Corbusier uses natural lighting to define certain spaces within the building. The different volumes of space also determines the amount of lighting entering the space.

   Le Corbusier believes proportioning exist because everything is geometrical in the vision of human. He states that proportion is like melody of music-it has to be harmony. However he also states that architectural ideas are personal experience. Le Corbusier believes simplicity also means abundant. Everyone has their own perspective and to react accordingly.

CHUA CHYI SHYAN 1001542549

The Plan of the Modern House

Le Corbusier

Visually, a proportion element which your heart has perceived is regarded as part of the proportional members. Le Corbusier is a notable Switzerland architect, spreading his open-minded and valiant attitude towards art, architecture and mathematics world. He even reveals his emotion through his abstract drawings, for the right person to read his mind. Personally, I am totally concur about the behavior of emphasizing the importance of sense while appreciating an art product. As an art and architecture lover, we should invariably design by following our heart, welcoming gut feeling.

'Personnage' by Charles Le Corbusier: express mind and feeling through art drawing

In modern architecture, Five Points of Architecture has become a core point as it has boosted the society to the industrialized world. This idea is actually explored from the Maison Domino design. A skeleton structure could exert free planning design, allow more space expansion and proportionalized certain building. As pure structure, it was a phenomenally bold idea. Due to its bold properties, it was unknown and even neglected by people in the beginning. However, it has widen the thinking to explore such empty space, verified that columns and staircase are able to support concrete slab.

Nil, does not represent it is nothing.

Maison Domino by Le Corbusier

When we look into Villa Savoye, it manifest the characteristics of free plan, free façade, free façade, ribbon windows, roof garden and pilotis. The presence of partition walls slotted between the support enable free-form interior design. Villa Savoye is free from structural conditioning, so it may be removed or altered the location of the building substructure elements. Despite aesthetically appearance and comfort, it has provide a room layout to the villa. Furthermore, structural function has relieved by separating structure from the building façade. Free façade permits walls to be designed in a freedom way. Thus, the whole façade display its unique characteristic and function. Moreover, the placement of horizontal windows allows air and light to enter the interior and attract amazing view from the surrounding. This also makes the upper level feel very open. Roof garden, is a recreational venue, shelter and garden for the client. It has enveloped concrete or other materials and create space for a building. By lifting a building over pilotis, the walls could be designed far more freely. In short, it does not need additional support for the building. Because of the presence of these vertical support element, an open space is exposed as it is able to withstand the weight of the overall loads without the aid of horizontal elements.

Villa Savoye, Poissy by Le Corbusier

The freedom of design has boosted the efficiency of building construction process as it has shorten the manufacture period due to its skeleton structure. Besides, it also rectify several modern functions. The concept of proportion has amplify the visual expression of structure, with open living spaces by obeying ‘Form Follow Function’. While an architect is boundless to design, beauty and playful form of building will definitely appeared.

Building is similar to human body. For real architectural revolution, the first step is to classify the pros and cons of every single space, analyse and resolve. Next, deal out detail dimension for spaces in modern buildings. Another point is circulation design concern. It is a methodical function, unconscious but significant to the thermal comfort for an occupant. Subsequently, compose all the rudimentary basis of architectural components. Lastly, appreciate the possibility of proportion in building.

In a nutshell, architectural plan is akin to music. Architect is burdened with challenges in the pathway of modern house plan design, but relish the process too! The intention of modernism proportional design: simple, clean and open.

Proportion of Villa Savoye in elevation

Written by Wong Rong Song, 1001746688

LE CORBUSIER, EXCERPT FROM LE MODULOR

   Written by Le Corbusier, a Swiss born French architect, Le Modular is an anthropometric scale of proportion. In his article, it is based on the height of a man standing with his arm raise and was developed as a visual representative of two incompatible scales, the imperial and metric system. It was also meant to be a universal system of proportion to reconcile maths, the human form, architecture and beauty into a single system.

   The "Modular Man" is segmented into something like a grid system according to the ''Golden Ratio'', with appoximately a ratio of 1.61. Le Corbusier started from an assumed standard size of the human body and marked three intervals that are in the approximate proportions of the Golden Ratio. These segments can be scaled up or down. This system provides useful measurements in the form of door and window openings, cities development, and even in industry and mechanics according to Le Corbusier.

   In addition ''The Modular'' system resolve the issue between the Imperial users as well as the Metric users. Le Corbusier succeeded in combining human body measurements with the foot-based Anglo-Saxon measurement system and the metric decimal system. 

   

   The Modulor represents the most significant modern attempt to give architecture a mathematical order oriented to the measure of man. The basic idea is to embody harmonious proportions and a design philosophy according to which buildings derive from the human needs of the inhabitants.

Written by: Chua Chyi Shyan 1001542549

Le Modular: The handsome man's Scale

The modular is a system which is devised for endless possibilities of combinations with just simple and connectable forms. The world is divided into imperial and metric calculation system, the modular claims to be the saving grace of the division between the 2 systems. It only uses a single unit, double unit, and the golden section. The scale was represented with a 6-foot tall “handsome man” with a raised arm.




Personally, as a fan of the metric system, I disagree and felt slightly offended as to why is the logical system is being diminished to just a length. I believe it achieves its communication with all sides of building construction from engineers to contractors. In real life works, things won't be as perfect as a single or double unit. Inflections in the workmanship would adjust the data. To consider the small minor details are necessary.




But, as my interest in prefabrication grows, it is a great thinking and design process of having puzzle-like components to create structural pictures. What kind of designs should a universal modular be? Is it even achievable to have a universal all-in-one modular? If it’s just simple geometry, then isn't a brick considered the most basic modular, even the earliest maybe? If prefab is the future for buildings is The Modular too advance for us the current generation that is can only be understood and used in a future lifetime?



Gwendolyn Chan Mei Yee 1001749034

Excerpts From Le Modular, Le Corbusier

Figure 1: Le Modulor, the standing man with a raised arm.

"The Modulor" or Le Modulor created by the architect, Le Corbusier is an anthropometric scale of proportions that used to determine the unit proportions in architecture, technology, and his furniture design. Le Corbusier described "The Modulor" as a measure which based on human scale and mathematics, numbers and the blue and red lines. We can often see the presence of repeated silhouette appears: The Modulor Man in Le Corbusier's buildings and arts. The Modulor man is a six-foot man supposedly based on the height of the detectives in the English crime novels that LeCorbusier enjoyed. This system is based on three aspects: human measurements, the Fibonacci numbers, and the golden ratio.

Figure 2: The "Stele of the Measure" at the Unité d’Habitation in Marseille.

Le Corbusier created the Modular by following the Vitruvian Man that made by Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian polymath, and others attempt to figure out mathematical proportions in the human body and how it improves the architecture, furniture, art, and technology. Besides, the Fibonacci Numbers is about the sequence of number in which the first number is 0, the second number is 1, then the following number is equal to the sum of the previous two numbers of the sequence. Next, the Golden Ratio (1.618) also called as golden mean or golden section. The golden ratio talk about the ratio of two quantities is in Golden Ratio if the sum of those quantities and the larger one in the same as the ratio between the larger one and the smaller.

Figure 3: The Golden Ratio in geometry: Golden spirals

The Le Modulor has shown the Modular Man in six-foot height (about183cm) man with the raised arm (to 226cm) was placed into a square that the ratio from the height of the man (183cm;6') to the height of his navel (at midpoint of 113cm) was in a Golden Ratio. Based on the basic plot at the Le Modular are 113,70, and 43cm. When they combined, they will be other measurements that related to the Modulor. For example:43+70=113,113+70=183 and 113+70+43=22, the three results determine the space human body occupies.

Therefore, the Golden Ratio can be found in the Capital Complex in Chandigarh designed by Le Corbusier. Besides that, we can also see the Golden Ration from the facade of the Unite D'Habitation in Marseilles by Le Corbusier.

Figure 4: Capital Complex in Chandigarh with Golden Spirals.

Last but not least, I admire Le Corbusier's creativity and the courage to create what he felt is needed in the construction field and can help in the art field. He is a great artist to the architecture of the world although the Modular Man he created is not accepted by all.




Written by: Kong Yi Xuan 1001852931