Father of modern architecture, Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, known as LE CORBUSIER, is a “complete” artist since he is at the same time an architect, town planner, decorator, painter, sculptor and Swiss man of letters. Le Corbusier learned classical architecture through numerous journeys that he undertook throughout his life and during which he acquired new techniques which would perfect his knowledge, also instilling in him curiosity about other cultures. He will find his inspiration for the artistic, architectural and urban elements which constitute the basis of his work during his travels, which will lead him, throughout his artistic journey, to interweave heritage and modernity. At the same time as his architectural practice, Le Corbusier nourished his reflection through a regular practice of the visual arts. Considered a representative of the Modern Movement, he introduced new ideas such as purism, the link between architecture and nature, as well as functionalism.
In particular, he was the first to replace exterior load-bearing walls with reinforced concrete pillars placed inside buildings. From now on, the facades no longer carry the upper floors, it is possible to clad them with light partitions and multiple, very large windows. He thus plays with shapes and spaces, without having to take into account any alignment linked to the weights of the upper floors, this constraint having therefore disappeared.
Its main strength was to significantly reduce construction times. He was the first to use basic techniques and materials, making it possible to build an entire house, on several floors in a few days, like his first complex, the Frugès de Pessac city, in the near suburbs of Bordeaux, a city made up of fifty small buildings, constructed at the rate of approximately one new building each week.
Le Corbusier
