Study: The Transformation of Architectural Thoughts Of Le Corbusier: Life of A Modernist Master

Image: Corbusier's Five Points of Architecture

Le Corbusier, one of the pioneers of modernist architecture, laid the foundations of purist architecture. In this study, we explore Corbusier's architectural philosophical life and how he principled design through some fixed rules of modernism.

[This blog is essentially our opinion about Corbusier and is not influenced by any other literature or opinion.]

We discovered that Le Corbusier practiced four forms of architecture throughout his career. We remember him for the impact of pure form and function on his life, and he continues to have iconic implications on subsequent architectural periods. Aside from pure form and function, his architectural life was filled with other events and practices. I'll discuss the parallels and distinctions between pure modernism and this change. Corbusier was a purist early in his architectural career; he practiced pure contemporary architecture. Some of the concepts he determined and implemented helped him validate his design. In theory, his practice played a fundamental influence in the evolution of architecture, laying the groundwork for the next fifty years. Although many architects today condemn his purism and tight regulations, he established a standard that led to the survival of contemporary architecture. In discussing some of his purism's beneficial elements, he pioneered using structural systems and free facades, which are used today. His utilization of open floor layouts, as well as the usage of roof gardens, opens up many possibilities, laying the framework for thermal mass in the contemporary era. I believe these favorable qualities served as a basis for sustainable and efficient design designs. In his project, ramps played a vital role in placemaking for physically challenged individuals, which he used to produce an example of continuous connectedness or transition. Le Corbusier's purist phase was so focused on utility that he didn't give form any thought. As a result, for form progression, integration, and dissolution, he chose the purist form. Which, in turn, promotes his functional purism. He also worked on circulation and operational transformation, public-private zoning, zone division, turning radii, oblique entry, and dynamic continuity, all of which are still working today.

To speak of its destructive elements during the purist time, its practice was highly functional and primarily biased, its importance unequal to the humans who would duel, i.e., hold the spot. Furthermore, architecture is a diverse field that does not adhere to specific norms. On the other hand, his strong stance on principalism called into doubt the rationalism many prominent architects debate today. Following WWII, he began practicing Brutalism, employing materials such as rough concrete textures, facade impressions such as sunbreakers, etc. But, other than the horizontal continuous window, which may have been broken for a sun breaker, he hasn't veered from his fundamental ideals here either. He spent much of his Brutalism time in India, where he practically dealt with numerous design theories on a building and urban level that did not exist. However, much negative has been generated in this area, owing to the failure to effectively exploit the Indian setting and human living ideology in many cases. He often wishes to do so during the mixed architecture phase. During the mixed architectural era, he adhered to his beliefs, namely the five points of architecture, while respecting the Indian environment, i.e., contextual architecture. Despite not working much with Le Corbusier's design principles, he later worked with a new style, which I have referred to as the monumental architectural phase of his design life. During this phase, he experimented with site axis, sculptural artistic value, meaning, ambiguity, and surrealistic design concerns, breaking free from his purist form and combining artistic and sculptural value with modernism.

After all, if we look at the evolution of his lifestyle, we can see that he has refined his design abilities and tried new things while remaining true to his principles. Although some of his experimental attempts provided sculptural merit, he shunned a humanistic approach. He is terrific, one of the finest of all time, but even the great has been criticized in specific ways. Figure 1 depicts the four stages of Corbisier's life design progression and the diagram.

Figure 1: Four Life Stages of Le Corbusier

Acknowledgments: Abdul Kayum, Mir Mohammad Akbar Rifat

Meet The AuthorS

Muhammad Golam Sami

B. Arch, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna, Bangladesh Architect | Futurist | Sustainable Design Expert

Operational Head, ADORA Studios, Bangladesh

Founder, samism.org

Lecturer, Department of Architecture

Northern University of Business & Technology

Mahmuda Yasmin Dola

B. Arch, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna, Bangladesh Architect | Analytical Practitioner

Head of Construction, ADORA Studios, Bangladesh

CMO & Head of Construction, SS Construction & Power Solution, Bangladesh

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Image: Museum Project, Birds' Eye View

Location: Suhrawardy Uddyan, Dhaka; Year: 2019