Download Le Corbusier: Ideas and Forms fb2

Prof. Curtis's Revised LC's Ideas and Forms is truly a gem. For architects, LC is like Picasso to artists. Every architect thinks he knows LC in one form or another. Suspend that decision util you read this book by Prof. Curtis. The book is truly an in-depth story of the master. The book begins with La Chaux de Fonds years. Who would have guessed LC was an offspring of a religious sect and have read all the things about Albigensian Wars of the 12th century. His teacher, L’Eplattenier, taught naturalist aesthetics and also constantly asked LC to seek the causation beyond the phenomena of nature. His mother, a musician and a pianist, lived up to age of 100. His first commissions followed
the indigenous practice of Jura Mountains. The book also pays particular attention to LC's formative years. At age 20, Le Corbusier took his first trips through central Europe and the Mediterranean, including Italy, Vienna, Munich and Paris. He worked for Perret (Paris) Behrens (Berlin). Prof Curtis guides us through the stories, some of the emerging agendas of modern and the continuing constants of history. Perret's use of emerging concrete structure system in comparison with LC's Domino is well illustrated. Behrens' influence in industrialization and machination aesthetics is also well portrayed. Then the book introduces grand voyage to the Orient and the Mediterranean. LC's famous sketches of Istanbul, Bursa, Athens, Pompeii, and Rome are well edited by Prof. Curtis to prepare the readers for future assertions of the architect in early projects and late projects. In 1917, LC moves back to Paris. With the help of Amédée Ozenfant, LC now practices as a painter and a Purist. Together they publish the famous L’Esprit Nouveau (The New Spirit), an avant-garde journal. Prof. Curtis introduces to the reader that LC used this journal as a springboard of his career and also a sounding board of his new findings. LC's writings from the journal became the famous book, "Towards Architecture." A prospect reader could easily realize how much one misread LC's book. I think the contents of book and the goal of book is put into the personal history of LC and the public history of the era. Personally, I found Villa Savoye and Ronchamp Chapel and various urbanism strategies quite interesting. Sharp contrast of Villa Savoye's smooth concrete surface years and Ronchamp's Beton Brut years are given fresh interpretations. The rise, fall, and evolution of LC's urbanism is quite an interesting read. Prior to this book, it was hard to differentiate his Radiant City, Contemporary City, and Algiers. In this book, LC's personal state of mind and the client's request and the historical context are provided to really articulate similarities and differences of his early and later urban manifestos. The real strength of this book is that it's an exciting page after page. For example, texts about Ronchamp Chapel, Prof. Curtis writes,
"Throughout the proession around the Chapel at Ronchamp, the curves demonstrate that they are no mere graphic trick, that they carry the architect's intentions into three dimnensions (in fact four) with tension and precision. They address the horizon, model light and shade, channel interior and exterior movement, and resolve the internal and external pressures of the building. In Le Corbusier's early works curves usually play agains a retangular gid; here they have a life of their own."
Precise rational analysis (like Vlla Savoye) inscribed in intensely moving texts is the true force of the book. The book is a gem because it is new sayings of old sayings. By that I mean, the facts of LC's career and magnificent projects are same as usual, but the way Prof. Curtis delivers them is brand new. As architects, we remember the texts of "Modern Archictrure since 1900", here is another book that is equally memorable, and a book that really matches the works of the LC.

Satisfied

Just as I need it

So comprehensive and inspiring.

Actually, I bought the book for my husband. He really liked this book better than Curtis' previous book with the same title. Corb is a favorite of my husband's and he has many, many books about him and his work. But, my husband said that Curtis had photos that my husband had never seen before in print.

This book is loaded with photos of Le Corbusier's work. The copy I have is from 1986. Some photos are in color. I appreciated photos of Le Corbusier's earlier works. They are a nice contrast to his modernistic work. I also appreciated the photos of the roof top terrace on the Villa Savoye. It shows some warmth in an otherwise cool house.

The book is a bit chaotic blend of many aspects and circumstances from different periods poorly supported by a few hard line building plans and sections mixed with photos sometimes casual, mostly in black & white, often not very informative close-ups. Many significant designes are not included or scantly depicted. The illustrative part does not match the textual.
CONTENTS
PREFACE 7
INTRODUCTION Notes on Invention 11
PART I THE FORMATIVE YEARS OF CHARLES EDOUARD JEANNERET 1887-1922
1 The Home Base 16
2 In Search of Personal Principles 26
3 A Classicism for the Jura 37
4 Paris, Purism and `L'Esprit Nouveau' 48
PART II ARCHITECTURAL IDEALS AND SOCIAL REALITIES 1922-1944
5 Defining Types for the New Industrial City 60
6 Houses, Studios and Villas 71
7 Machine-Age Palaces and Public Institutions 85
8 Villa Savoye, Cite de Refuge, Pavilion Suisse 93
9 Regionalism and Reassessment in the 1930s 108
10 Politics, Urbanism and Travels 1929-1944 118
PART III THE ANCIENT SENSE: LATE WORKS 1945-1965
11 The Modulor, Marseilles and the Mediterranean Myth 162
12 Sacral Forms, Ancient Associations 175
13 Le Corbusier in India: The Symbolism of Chandigarh 188
14 The Merchants of Ahmedabad 202
15 Retrospection and Invention: Final Projects 213
CONCLUSION Le Corbusier: Principles and Transformations 223
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND NOTES 230
INDEX 237

Brilliant scholarship! Very comrehensive and inspiring! A classic! Excellent Book!!!