Le Corbusier was born Charles-Edouard Jeanneret in Switzerland in 1887. Upon moving to Paris at the age of 29, he changed his name to that of his maternal grandfather, Le Corbusier. Le Corbusier believed that by choosing his own name, you reinvented yourself. This allowed him to identify himself as an abstraction, rather than a member of a family.
He believed the "new age" (or industrial age) need to start everything over from ground zero, including architecture. It was with this idea of starting over that Corbusier came up witht he plan for Le Cabanon. The sketch for this project was so simple and minimal that he completed it within 45 minutes. All the proportions in this building are formed around Corbusier's idea of the modular man, his alter ego.
He built this house with a strict regiment by which nothing can be changed. The windows were not large, and thus created a sense of restraint and self-containment within Le Cabanon. The front entranceway had a separate doorway that led to one of Le Corbusier's favourite cafe, eliminating the need for a kitchen.
This style of design embodied the concept of a nomadic, reduced lifestyle. His design makes reference to the idea of the "primitive hut." Through this project, he found a way for modern living to exist at its most primitive, elemental state. Corbusier emulated the life of a monk, more specifically how monks live in retreat.
He gained sight of this vision of a monk's simple life on his vist the the Monastery of Ema. From there, he wanted to discover, or to create, a different architecture, unique and original in its essential nudity. His objective - assisting people in knowing how to live understanding and appreciating important things.
He built the Cabanon around five essential things he believed he believed everyone needed access to:
-sun
-sea
-space
-greenery
-love
-Kate Black-
Information Sources:
Fergusson,James. A History of Architecture in All Countries. 2, New York: Dood, Mead, and Company, 1885
Frampton,Kenneth. Le Corbusier: Architect of the Twentieth Century. Diana Murphy. New York: Harry N. Abrams Inc., 2002.
Samuel,Flora. Le Corbusier: Architect and Feminist. Chichester: Wiley-Academy, John Wiley and Sons Ltd., 2004.
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