Once I get the chance to know more about Villa Savoye in studio class, I am really inspired by Le Corbusier. He was believed to be the most famous architect of the 20th century. Both renowned for his architectectural projects and theoretical thoughts. He was emerged out of art nouveau and art deco styles, and created a new architecture for a new century with a zeal fitting for an age of absolute ideals. “We must start again from zero” he famously said. I think this is the uniqueness of him being able to create his own style from other architects.
Moreover, his style of work has a connection with my house project, Esherick house by Louis Kahn, as they were both worked in an Interational Style. Kahn had obtained from Le Corbusier’s modernistic movement.
Villa Savoye is considered to be Le Corbusier’s masterpiece, as it was the first building to fully realize all five points of his architectural aesthetic, as elucidated in his landmark work, “Towards A New Architecture.” The building is raised from the ground on piloti as if he wanted it to be separated from nature and elevated to a higher intellectual plane. The exterior of the building is all coated in white stucco. He once said that ‘by law, all building should be painted white.’ White symbolizes purity and simplicity, and these values were extolled by Modernism. The piloti provided the structural support for the house as it was made of reinforced concrete, which continues up through the interior. That allowed Le Corbusier to develop what he called the free façade. He was able to include a key motif of Modernism, which is those continuous ribbon windows, because the walls are non-load bearing. Finally, he created a roof terrace. A wall of sliding glass opens onto courtyard, which united the boundary between exterior and interior together.
Villa Savoye is an excellent example of Le Corbusier’s strongly Modernism style. He believed that his new modern architectural form would provide a new organization solution that would raise the quality of life for the lower class. Now, he is a great influence on numerous architects, artists and even to normal citizens.
