Regulation or Manipulation: Villa Savoye
By Joel Pominville
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| Villa Savoye, Poissy, France - Designed by Le Corbusier |
There once was an architect of such
influence in the world, he set trends that are still evidenced in contemporary
architecture. This man also discovered five points that helped him set
regularity and sense in architecture. This man was Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, or Le Corbusier
as he is known in the architectural realm. He discovered a standard means of
design that would help create a linear understanding of his architecture. These
points include the use of pilotis to “lift” the building from the ground plane,
several fixed load-bearing interior walls, an open floor plan, ribbon-like
windows framing the exterior, and the use of a green roof. These points are
often seen as highly intuitive and genius by some. Le Corbusier once stated,
“To create architecture is to put in order. Put what in order? Function and
objects.” I question whether this is a completely honest remark. Maybe his
points more so allow him to manipulate placement of objects resulting in order,
rather than the opposite.
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| Villa Savoye Elevations - Highlighted Fenestration |
A good question always to be asking when studying architecture is how
was an idea, form, or situation was brought into reality. How were windows
placed? To frame the view? To allow that situation of light enter? Why is the
circulation centralized rather than pushed to the exterior? It is important to
keep questions like these in mind as one looks at works of architecture, more
specifically, modern architecture. Observing the Villa Savoye, one can question
many of these things. For example, was it this order Corbusier speaks of five
that created the windows around the exterior? I argue that it was a conscious
decision by the architect to manipulate the exterior to be a continuous band
that resulted in an order, rather than a set order that created the ribbon of
fenestration.
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| Villa Savoye Floor 1-2 Plans - Highlighted Structure |
Another
example of this can be seen in the open floor plan. If what he says about
creating architecture that puts function and objects in order, then his second
and third points of architecture may be questioned. If architecture is to put
in order function and objects, then there must be a clear order in their
organization. However, in the Villa Savoye, the structural elements in the
second level do not express this level of order. Furthermore, the open plan
suggests that the spaces could be organized independently of the structural
walls. I believe that the decisions were again less about an order that
informed the organization, and more about a conscious and manipulated action on
the architect’s side. The plan seems to depict a plan that was preconceived organizationally
and molded into a plan that defended the order. The roof plan seems to lack the
same level of order that Corbusier states he accomplishes. There is seemingly
no order of elements that depict their function.
In
all of this, I mean not to discredit the work of on of the greatest masterminds
of the modern period of architecture. I simply question the clarity of the
decisions made in the design of the Villa Savoye. However, as the building
serves better as an exhibit or an example, then maybe the question I pose is
less important than if it were to be needed to be completely useful as a
functional home.
Information
Sketch
Pictures
http://4dlife.mihanblog.com/post/164
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