1. le Corbusier
ARCHITECT
DESIGNER
PAINTER URBAN PLANNER
WRITER
ONE OF THE PIONEER OF MODERN
ARCHITECTURE
By
Pankaj Kumar
Mipul Kumar

2. Life Story
•Charles-Edouard jeanneret , better known as Le
Corbusier.
•Born in Switzerland
• Became a French citizen in 1930.
•His master – Charles L’Eplattenier , a teacher at
the local art school.
•At thirteen, Le Corbusier abandoned
matchmaking, and continued his studies in art
and decoration, with the intention of becoming a
painter.
•Insisted by his master to study architecture.
•Pioneer in studies of modern high design.

3. Life Story
•1907 – travelled to Paris - found work in the office of
Augeste perret , The French pioneer of Reinforced
Concrete.
•1908 – Studied Architecture.
•Between October 1910 and March 1911- worked for
renowned architect , Peter Behrens near berlin.
•Taught at his old school during World War I.
•Began his own architectural practice in 1922 with his
cousin, Pierre Jeanneret- partnership lasting 50 years.

4. Life Story
•Established a new artistic movement , Purism in collaboration with
cubist Painter, Amedee Ozenfant.
•Between 1918 and 1922 , no building – concentrating his efforts on
Purist theory and painting.
•In switzerland – designed a serious of villas and embarked on a
more theoretical study for a structural frmae of reinforced concretes.
•Envisaged it as an affordable , prefabricated system for the
construction of new housing – wake of world war I’s destruction.
•At the end of war – moved to paris – worked on concrete structures
under government contracts – also ran a small brick manufacturing.

5. THE IDEA…..
Explicitly used the golden ration in
his modulor system for the scale
of architectural proportion.
The modulor is an anthropometric
scale of proportions devised by
him..
It is based on the height of an
english man with his arm raised.

6. BUILDING WITH MODULAR SYSTEM
Unite d’Habitaion in marseilles
Church of sainte marie de la tourette
Carpenter Centre for the visual arts

7. FIVE PRINCIPLES FOR NEW ARCHITECTURE
THE IDEA…..
Pilotis elevating the building
Free plan
Free façade
Long horizontal windows
Roof garden
Foundation of architecture – Dome-ino house (1914-1915)
proposed an open floor plan consisting of concrete slabs supported by a minimal number
of thin,reinforced concrete columns around the edges , with a stairway providing access to
each level on one side of the floor plan.

8. Carpenter Centre for the visual arts
•It is located in Cambridge,
Massachusetts.
•Building type – University art
center.
•It is built with the reinforced castin-place concrete masonry.
•It is his only major building in the
United States – designed to house
classes in architecture, film and
other arts.

9. •It is designed with the collaboration of Chilean
architect Guillermo Jullian de la Fuente.
•The building was completed in 1963.
•No architecture style was involved in it.
•It is governed by the Harvard University.
•Its wonderful collection of concrete forms bring
together
•Its concrete has a smooth, precise finish; tall, thin
columns break up its interior spaces.
•A great curvilinear ramp bisects the structure and
connects the main stair and an exhibition space.

11. From Quincy street there are two possible
approaches to the building: up the ramp or down to
the main gallery entrance.
The ramp was intended to be the centerpiece of the
building, taking people directly to its center.
This ramp provides an impressive experience.
Different type of lightings was designed at different
times of day.
The use of concrete pilotis elevated the building
above the ground.
The pilotis extended the landscape beneath the
building.
.
The pilotis vary in diameter throughout the
building, depending on the load they are forced to
carry.
In many places these pilotis are designed to give the
building a feeling of freedom

12. PLAN

13. SECTIONS

14. VILLA SAVOYE
LOCATION: POISSY , FRANCE
DATE : 1928 – 1929
BUILDING TYPE : HOUSE
CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM : CONCRETE
AND PLASTERED UNIT MASONRY
CONTEXT : RURAL OR SUBURBAN
STYLE: MODERN

15. GROUND LEVEL PLAN
UPPER LEVEL PLAN
PLANS

16. SECTIONS

17. •Designed addressing his emblematic "Five
Points",
•Support of ground-level pilotis,
elevating the building from the earth and
allowed an extended continuity of the
garden beneath.
•Functional roof, serving as a garden
and terrace, reclaiming for nature the
land occupied by the building.
•Free floor plan, relieved of load-bearing
walls, allowing walls to be placed freely
and only where aesthetically needed.
•Long horizontal windows, providing
illumination and ventilation.
•Freely-designed facades, serving as
only as a skin of the wall and windows
and unconstrained by load-bearing
considerations.

18. •Unlike his earlier town villas Corbusier was
able to carefully design all four sides of the
Villa Savoye in response to the view and the
orientation of the sun.
•On the ground floor he placed the main
entrance hall, ramp and stairs, garage,
chauffeur and maids rooms.
•At first floor the master bedroom, the son's
bedroom, guest bedroom, kitchen, salon and
external terraces.
•The salon was orientated to the north west
whilst the terrace faced the south.
•The son's bedroom faced the south east and
the kitchen and service terrace were on the
north east.
•At second floor level were a series of
sculpted spaces that formed a solarium.
Living room from north
Northwest corner of kitchen
from east

19. Geometry is the means, created by ourselves, where-by we perceive the
external
world and express the world within us. Geometry is the foundation. lt is also
the
material basis on which we build those symbols, which represent us to
perfection and
divine. 5

20. INTRODUCTION
Chandigarh is one of the most significant urban planning experiments of the 20th century.
It is the only one of the numerous urban planning schemes of Le Corbusier to have actually been executed
It has become a symbol of planned urbanism. It is as famous for its landscaping as for its architectural
ambience.
Most of the buildings are in pure, cubical form, geometrically subdivided with emphasis on proportion,
scale and detail
Edict of Chandigarh set by Le Corbusier
The object of this edict was to enlighten the present and future citizens of Chandigarh about the basic
concepts of planning of the city, so that they become its guardians and save it from individualistic ideas.
This edict as set by Le Corbusier sets out the following basic ideas underlying the planning of the city:
The city of Chandigarh is planned to human scale. It puts us in touch with the infinite
cosmos and nature. It provides us with places and buildings for all human activities by
which the citizens can Live a full and harmonious Life. Here the radiance of nature and
heart are within our reach. (Corbusier, 1950 as quoted from the official website of the
Municipal Administration of Chandigarh)

21. GENESIS OF THE CITY
India attained independence in 1947, but in the process the territory of British India was
partitioned to form India and Pakistan. The large and prosperous Province of
Punjab, was divided and Lahore, its capital, fell within the borders of Pakistan,
leaving Indian Punjab without a capital. Those who had been compelled to migrate
to India keenly felt the loss of Lahore, a city much loved by its inhabitants.
In March 1948, the Government of Punjab in consultation with the Government of
India, approved a 114.59 sq. km tract of land at the foot of the Shivalik hills as the
site of the new capital. An existing village gave its name (Chandi = Goddess of
Power + garh = fortress) to the new city. The decision to build a new city seemed like an
extravagant decision to some at the time, but there were practical justifications. After
partition, the population of all the existing towns in East Punjab had more than doubled on
account of the migration of displaced persons from Pakistan. As a government publication
pointed out:
"Most of these towns, even before partition, lacked essential amenities such as
adequate drainage and water supply and none of them had schools or
hospitals which could meet the normal needs of the population according to
modern standards for such services." (Kalia 1987)

22. CORBUSIER DEFINATION
OF
CHANDIGARH
Chandigarh is a city offering all amenities of Life to the poorest of the poor of its citizens to lead a
dignified life. Chandigarh is a Government city with a precise goal and consequently a precise quality of
inhabitants.
On this presumption, the city has not to be a big city (metropolis?) - it must not lose its definition. People
Say that life must come in the city from other source or activity especially industry. An industrial city is not
the same as an administrative city. One must not mix the Mo. It seems that complement of the original
definition should be the invitation of forces, which can supplement the forces of the city not opening a
conflict or rivalry. We must take care that any temptations do not kill the goal, which was foreseen at the
moment of the foundation of the city. Therefore, naturally, old doors must be opened to actually unknown
initiatives. It appears that the future of Chandigarh will be opened to al1 the cultural factors in different
kinds of manifestation: teaching (school), university, new science of imparting audio-visual training and so
on.
It is a means to express and to disperse thought (editions: books, magazines and eventually printing of
books, magazines, etc.). Means to express and disperse arts (in time and space - history and geography).
Al1 kinds of reproduction of art-witnesses (editions: visual means - photographs, diagrarns etc at
different scales).
Diverse manifestations of exhibitions, shows, theatre, festivals, creations of highest modernity etc. such
manifestations reclaiming the organizations and use of travelling, possibilities of hostelry, etc. For the
culture of the body there can be created an organism having as disposition any possibilities of meeting for
competitions or tournaments- All this will afford the creation of a 'Chandigarh' label, which will be the
guarantee of quality and worth emulation- 10

23. MASTER PLAN

IN 1951 IT WAS GIVEN TO LE CORBUSIER

IN CHANDIGARH LE CORBUSIER SYTEM OF SELF SUPPORTING NEIGHBORHOOD UNIT KNOWN AS A SECTOR HAS
WORKED VERY WELL

SECTOR WHICH IS INTROVERTED IN CHARACTER COMMUNICATES ONLY AT 4 JUNCTIONS WITH THE ADJOINING
NEIGHBOURHOOD UNITS

ALL THE HOUSES OPEN UP INSIDE

GRID PLANNING IS DONE

CHANDIGARH PLANNING WAS DONE IN AN MANNER THAT EVERYTHING WAS EASILY CLEAR ABOUT THE ROUTES AND
SECTORS

7 V’S ROAD SYSTEM IS USED

THE ROADS ARE CLASSIFIED AS V1 ,V2 ,V3………V7

V-1 Fast roads connecting Chandigarh to other towns;

V-2 Arterial roads;

V-3 Fast vehicular roads;

V-4 Free Flowing shopping streets;

V-5 Sector circulation roads;

V-6 Access roads to houses;

V-7 Footpaths and cycle tracks

24. AS THE MOST ECONOMICAL AND READILY AVAILABLE MATERIAL FOR BUILDING AT
CHANDIGARH WAS LOCALLY MADE BRICK. THE FLAT ROOF WAS EMPLOYED THROUGH
OUT IN CHANDIGARH HOUSING BECAUSE OF ITS USEFULNESS AS A SLEEPING AREA
70% OF THE BUILDING WOULD BE PRIVATE IN ALL THE SECTORS. RESIDENTIAL PLOTS
RANGING IN DIMENSIONS FROM 75 SQ. YARDS TO 5000 SQ YARDS.
LE-CORBUISER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENERAL OUTLINES OF THE MASTER
PLAN AND THE CREATION OF THE MONUMENTAL BUILDLINGS,WHILE PIERRE
JEANNERET,MAXWELL FRY AND JANE DREW WERE CHARGED WITH THE TASK OF
DEVELOPING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD SECTORS WITH THEIR SCHOOLS,SHOPPING
BAZAARS,AND THE TRACTS OF GOVERNMENT HOUSING
the basic framework of the master plan and its components - the Capitol , City Centre,
university, industrial area, and a linear parkland as conceived by Mayer and Nowicki
were retained by Le Corbusier.

25. SECTOR






The dimensions of the 'Sector' and its creation are best explained in Le
Corbusier's own words: “Its dimensions are an outcome of studies made
between 1929 and 1949 of the Spanish 'Cuadra' of 100 to 1 10 meters
A useful reclassification of the (Cuadras) led Le Corbusier to adopt a ratio of
harmonious dimensions and productive combinations: seven to eight
'cuadras' on one side, ten to twelve 'cuadras' on the other, that is to Say 800
meters by 1200 meters
The entrance of cars into the sectors could take place on four points only;
namely in the middle of the 1200 m. in the middle of the 800 meters
no house (or building) door opens on the thoroughfare of rapid traffic
Each sector had its maintenance organizations, the food provisions, schools
(kindergarten and primary),necessary artisans (repairs, etc) the daily leisure
(movies etc.) al1 traversing in the middle of each sector
The V-4 gave the horizontal connection between the contiguous sectors

26. 




GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
It was bound by two seasonal choes, or rivulets, the
patiala Rao and the Sukhna in the northwest and the
south east respectively.
It extends in the northeast right up to the foothills of the
shivaliks.
The region experiences extremes in the climate. The
temperature could rise to 45 degrees in summer and
drop to freezing point in winter.
The direction of the prevalent winds is southeast to the
northwest in summer and northwest to the southeast in
winter

27. 













OPEN SPACES
Some 800 hectares of green open space are spread over the approximately
114 square
kilometers of the Capital Project area.
Major open areas include the Leisure Valley, Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden and
many other
special gardens. In addition, the sectors are vertically integrated by green space
oriented in the direction of the mountains.
LANDSCAPING
Landscaping proceeded side by side with the constructionof the city from the
very inception.
Three spaces were identified for special plantation: the roadsides, spaces
around important buildings, parks and special features such as Sukhna Lake.
Le Corbusier’s contribution to landscaping was of categorising tree forms.
He made a simple analysis of the functional needs and aesthetic suitability for
the various areas, devoting special attention to specific roads.
prominent flowering trees are gulmohar (Delonix regia), amaltas (Cassia fistula),
kachnar (Bauhinea variegata), pink cassia (Cassia Javanica) and silver oak
(Grevillea robusta).
Among the conspicuous non-flowering trees one finds kusum (Schleicheta
trijuga) and pilkhan (Ficus infectoria) along V3 roadsides.
These trees, noted for their vast, thick spreading canopies form great vaulting
shelters over many of the city’s roads.
In all, more than 100 different tree species have been planted in (Fieus
religosa) Chandigarh .

28. 



THE CAPITOL COMPLEX
THE AREA OF THE GREATEST SYMBOLIC
SIGNIFICANCE IN CHANDIGARH WAS THE
CAPITOL COMPLEX , WHICH IN ITS FINAL
FORM WAS BASED ON THE DESIGN OF A
GRAET CROSS AXIS THE MOST IMPORTANT
GROUP OF THE BUILDINGS CONSTITUTING
THE CAPITOL- RIGHT, THE PARLIAMENT,
LEFT,IN THE BACKGROUND, THE
SECRETARIAT IN THE FOREGROUND, THE
POOL OF THE PALACE OF JUSTICE
THE ARTIFICIAL HILLS IN THE FRONT OF THE
SECRETARIAT HAVE NOT BEEN CREATED AND
LAID OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
COEBUSIERS CONCEPTIONS
ALTHOUGH THE SCENE IS HARMONIUS IN
EFFECT, THERE ARE STILL MISSING THE
BUILDINGS THAT BELONG HERE, SUCH AS ,
FOR INSTANCE, THE TOWERS OF SHADOWS

29. THE SECRETARIAT,1958

30. THE HIGH COURT

31. COLOURED MASSIVE PILLARS
PARASOL ROOF
FORMING ARCHES
DOUBLE ROOF
GAP LEFT BETWEEN
TWO ROOFS
FULL HT ENTRANCE

32. BIBLIOGRAPHY
gans, d. (1987). the le corbusier guide. In d.
gans, the le corbusier guide. new york:
princeton architectural press.
 hoffman, anna. (2009, 08 10). le-corbusiermodernist-visiona. Retrieved 02 2, 2014, from
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/lecorbusier-modernist-visiona-97845
