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Le Corbusier: The Architect Who Changed the World | Biography & Legacy | ArchDaily | YouTubeToText
YouTube Transcript: Le Corbusier: The Architect Who Changed the World | Biography & Legacy
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Have you ever walked through a city and
wondered who first imagined the clean
lines, open spaces, and modern forms we
see today? Well, so much of what defines
our current architectural identity
traces back to one revolutionary figure, Lorbuzier.
Lorbuzier.
Known for his pioneering designs,
Lorbuzier envisioned a world built on
order, efficiency, and modernity. From
the bold lines of Villa Savois to the
utopian city of Chandigar, his work
remains as impactful today as it was
nearly a century ago.
But who was the man behind these
revolutionary ideas? What inspired him
to redefine the visual and structural
identity of architecture? Is it true
that he wanted to replace the historic
Paris with towering skyscrapers and
meticulously planned environments?
In this video, we'll explore the
innovation, the controversies, and the
legacy of L Corbuzzier, a man who dared
to challenge tradition and change the
way we built our urban fabric. [Music]
[Music]
Hi everyone, welcome to Ark Daily, the
place where we explore the incredible
world of architecture, one visionary at
a time. Before we start with the video,
remember to subscribe to our channel and
visit arcdaily.com
for more stories about your favorite architects.
architects.
Charl Edoir Jeanre better known as
Lorbusier was born in 1887 in Lasho
Defon a small town of Switzerland known
for its watchmaking industry he began
his studies at the Aldar focusing on
engraving and watchmaking but under the
mentorship of Charles Le platinier his
interests expanded to architecture and
other artistic disciplines in his early
20s Lorbuzzier traveled extensively
throughout Europe visiting cities like
Florence, Vienna and Istanbul. During
this period he was exposed to the works
of leading architects and the richness
of classical architecture. He worked
briefly in the offices of Agugust Pere
in Paris where he learned about the use
of reinforced concrete and later with
Peter Barren in Germany where he was
introduced to industrial design and
modernist ideas. These experiences laid
the foundation for his radical
architectural vision.
In 1917, Lorbuzier moved to Paris and
began collaborating with artist Ammed
Ozan. Together, they developed a
movement called purism, which emphasized
clarity and order in art, reflecting the
Corbuzzier's growing obsession with
functionality and efficiency. This
philosophy soon extended into his
architectural work where he sought to
create buildings that met the needs of
modern living.
Lorbuier's work in the 1920s was deeply
influenced by the social and economic
challenges that emerged after World War
I. The devastation and instability
caused by the war highlighted the urgent
need for efficient, functional, and
affordable housing to accommodate
rapidly growing urban populations. In
1923, he published his book Virgin Architecture,
Architecture,
also known as Towards a New Architecture.
Architecture.
In this manifesto, he outlined his
vision of modern architecture,
advocating for the use of industrial
materials like steel and concrete and
emphasizing the need for simplicity,
functionality, and efficiency. His
famous statement, "A house is a machine
for living in," captured his belief that
architecture should be as purposeful as
a machine.
Lorbuzier's five points of architecture
became a blueprint for his designs.
These principles included the use of
pilot columns that raise the structure
off the ground,
flat roofs used as gardens or terraces,
open floor plans allowing flexibility
and layout, horizontal windows
maximizing light and views, and free
facades liberated from structural constraints.
constraints.
These ideas were realized in projects
like the Villa Savois, a landmark of
modernist design that perfectly embodies
these principles.
Throughout his career, alongside his
architectural work, Lorbuier was a
fierce and radical campaigner for new
visions of modernist urban planning.
Like his early architectural work,
Lorbier's urban designs were focused on
purely functional design and gave great
primacy to the automobile. [Music]
[Music]
One of his most controversial proposals
was the plan voisan for Paris presented
in 1925.
The Corbuzzier envisioned demolishing
large sections of central Paris
including parts of the historic Marray
district to make way for a grid of
60story crucififor skyscrapers
surrounded by green spaces. The plan
aimed to solve the problems of
overcrowding and inefficiency in urban
areas, emphasizing open spaces,
sunlight, and traffic efficiency.
While it was never implemented, the plan
Voisan sparked heated debates about
modern urbanism and the balance between
heritage and progress.
During the 1930s and the second world
war, the Corbuzier completed fewer
buildings than in his fertile early
years. But the end of the war saw an
explosion in commissions. By now,
however, he was working in a very
different style to the smooth
machine-like modernism of the 1920s,
favoring exposed concrete and monumental
scale. Widely adopted and adapted by L
Corbuzier's many followers, the style
came to be known as brutalism.
So named for the French Beton brute,
meaning raw concrete.
It was during this period of around 15
years that Lorier completed many of his
most admired works including the unique
as well as similar designs in Nance Res
Berlin Brier and Fermane the Chapel of
Notradam Dio in Ron
the convent of Lurretet
and the carpenter for the visual arts
his only building in the United [Music]
[Music]
In the 1950s, Lorbuzier was finally able
to realize a synthesis of his
architectural and urban planning visions
when he was invited to complete the
design of Chandigar, the new capital of
the state of Punjab in India. Lorbuzier
designed a functional city layout and
for the city's capital, he designed
three buildings himself. The secretariat
building, the palace of the assembly and
the high court. The city became a living
example of his vision for a radiant city
with its orderly layout, open spaces,
and emphasis on community living.
Although the Cororbuzzier left a lasting
mark on modern architecture, his career
was marred by several controversies. One
of the most debated episodes involves
Eileen Gay's E1027 villa on the French
Riviera, which she designed between 1926
and 1929 with her partner John Badovichi.
Badovichi.
Gray, a pioneering modernist designer
and architect, created the villa as a
personal retreat, embodying her
philosophy of functional and harmonious
design. However, in 1938 and 1939,
Lorbuzier painted a series of large
murals directly onto its walls while
staying there as a guest of Badovichi.
Gray was not consulted about the murals,
and many view this as an intrusion on
her artistic vision and a symbolic act
of dominance over a female designer's
work. The incident has sparked ongoing
debates about artistic ownership and
gender dynamics in the modernist movement.
movement. [Music]
[Music]
L Corbusier ideas were often seen as too
rigid or utopian, particularly his urban
planning concepts, which some argued
ignored the complexities of human
behavior and social diversity.
However, his influence on architecture
and design is undeniable.
Throughout his life, Lorbuzzier
continued to push boundaries, blending
art, technology, and social vision in
ways that changed architecture forever.
From furniture design to urban planning,
his legacy endures in the minimalist
aesthetics and functional layouts we see
today. Lorbuzier passed away in 1965,
but his ideas continue to inspire
architects and designers around the
world. His work challenges us to think
about how architecture can shape not
[Music]
What are your thoughts on Lorbuzzier's
work? Do you see him as a visionary or
as a controversial figure? Let us know
in the comments below. If you enjoyed
this video, don't forget to like,
subscribe, and hit the bell icon to stay
updated on all things architecture.
Thanks for watching and see you in the
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