Birkhauser Publishers have once again made the Complete Works of Le Corbusier available for
purchase. The set is an uncorrected reprint of the series of first editions which were published individually
between 1929 and 1970. Willy Boesinger and Oscar Stonorov worked closely with Le Corbusier to produce
a set of monographs that would display the design process that led to the realization of his many projects.
There are unrealized projects shown as well, including his entry for the competition of the United Nations
Building in New York. There is an astonishing range of drawings, thoughts and photographs, including
ones during construction, on the many projects that came to define the great modern architect. Through the
course of the 8 volumes, one sees how Le Corbusier shaped and evolved his ideas from his early industrial
aesthetic to his highly expressionistic final works. In the introduction to the first volume, he stated:
"I do not believe in the axioms of spontaneous generation or constant values. But I do believe that all
architecture which speaks to the soul is always the work of individuals."
With Modern Architecture once again at the forefront of design, there has been renewed interest in Le
Corbusier. Of course, many of us never dismissed him, as others did during the brief Post-Modern era,
realizing that his work represented a benchmark in 20th century architecture and would stand the test of
time. What is fascinating in leafing through the pages of these volumes is the great concern Le Corbusier
had for the environment and the urban context. While his early visions may have been driven too much by
the rise of modern technology, as expressed in his "machines for living," he would later advocate the use of
Beton Brut, or bare concrete, to give his monumental buildings of the 50's and 60's a more human texture.
But, even in his earliest designs, Le Corbusier saw the need for open plans as well as open facades that
allowed light and air to circulate through the building. He also foresaw the need for standardized housing
types to meet the immediate need for affordable living in the devastating aftermath of WWI. His Citrohan
House was designed to be mass produced and his immeubles villas, residential blocks, were designed as
pre-fabricated living modules with airy courtyards and facades that had ample garden terraces. He also
advocated roof gardens, none more active than that of the Unite de Habitation in Marseilles, which are now
being mandated in many European cities. His plan and building designs for the provincial capital of
Chandigarh, in India, worked with the natural environment in a way that is still valued by its residents 35
years later. He also drew from traditional Indian typology and showed a deep understanding of the solar
patterns of the region, creating a city that was thoroughly modern but also specific to its part of the world,
greatly influencing contemporary Indian architects like Balkrishna Doshi.
Le Corbusier would also have a far ranging influence on architecture around the world through is studio in
Paris. He was invited to many countries to participate in such projects as the Ministry of Education in Rio
de Janeiro, where his brises-soliel were introduced to help combat the intense sun of the tropics. He would
have a profound impact on Oscar Niemeyer and other architects he came in contact with.
These books, along with many others that he published during his lifetime, were designed to guide
architects and planners in making rational decisions about the urban and suburban environments that met
the social needs of the dwellers. He was a socialist in the best sense of the word and his architecture has
been a constant inspiration to many of us, and has deeply influenced modern architecture to the present day.
edited by W. Boesiger and O. Stonorov
ISBN: 3-7643-5515-8 or 0-8176-5515-8
The set of monographs is available through several
distributors. It lists for 520 Euros, but prices vary. A
boxed set of reprints of The Modulor and Modulor 2
(ISBN: 3-7643-6188-3) is available through Birkhauser
Publishers as well . You might also be interested in
visiting the Fondation Le Corbusier on line.
