1 - Introduction
This paper principally studies two works by Le Corbusier, a treatise entitled Vers une architecture, and a completed building, the Villa Savoye. Le Corbusier first published Vers une architecture in 1923. The English translation is (mistakenly) entitled Towards A New Architecture. For consistency, I will refer to the French title throughout. The Villa Savoye is a private single-family residence located in Poissy, France. Design started in 1928, and proceeded through five variations1. Construction began in 1929 and was completed in 1931.
The intent of this study is twofold. Firstly, a comparison is made as to the effect and correlation of the treatise on the building, and conversely, the effect of the building on the treatise. By the former I mean how (and if) the architectural principles expressed by Le Corbusier are manifested in an actual project. Does the ideology take precedence over other concerns? Is there a compromising effect due to accommodating owner needs, project budgets, etc? Similarly, do the experiences of building affect the construction of the treatise?
This aspect of the study takes the principles expressed by Le Corbusier as a given. The second intent of this study examines the roots of the stated principles, and their applicability to the realm of architecture.