Le Corbusier: The Art of Architecture

by Le Corbusier, Alexander Von Vegesack (Editor), Mateo Kries (Editor)

One of the key figures in 20th-century architecture, Le Corbusier had an impact that is still potent today. Whether admirers are making a pilgrimage to his intimate, evocative chapel at Ronchamps, or urban planners are reviling his monolithic apartment blocks as inhuman and unlivable, Le Corbu still has the power to inspire and polarize the architecture and urban-planning world. This richly illustrated monograph, based on the first major Le Corbusier retrospective in more than 20 years, presents an overview of his work, including not only architectural projects, interior design and furniture, but also paintings, textiles, sculpture, drawings, and books.

Full of new discoveries and perspectives for longtime followers of Le Corbusier's work, this book is based on a rich trove of previously unpublished material, and on the latest research. Essays by well-known Le Corbusier experts examine aspects of his work, including the relationship between sculpture and architecture, his work as an interior designer, his fascination with new media and the technical object, and his lifelong interest in Asia. A comprehensive introduction to the work and influences of the architect of the century, a title that he fully deserves. With texts by Stanislaus von Moos, Jean-Louis Cohen, Arthur Ruegg, Beatriz Colomina, Mateo Kries, and others.

Genres: Architecture, Art

398 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, better known as Le Corbusier; was an architect, designer, painter, urban planner, writer, and one of the pioneers of what is now called modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930. His career spanned five decades, with his buildings constructed throughout Europe, India, and America. He was a pioneer in studies of modern high design and was dedicated to providing better living conditions for the residents of crowded cities. He was awarded the Frank P. Brown Medal and AIA Gold Medal in 1961.
Le Corbusier adopted his pseudonym in the 1920s, allegedly deriving it in part from the name of an ancestor, Lecorbésier.