Le Corbusier: Ideas and Forms

Prof. Curtis's Revised LC's Ideas and Forms is truly a gem. For architects, LC is like Picasso to artists. Every architect thinks he knows LC in one form or another. Suspend that decision util you read this book by Prof. Curtis. The book is truly an in-depth story of the master. The book begins with La Chaux de Fonds years. Who would have guessed LC was an offspring of a religious sect and have read all the things about Albigensian Wars of the 12th century. His teacher, L’Eplattenier, taught naturalist aesthetics and also constantly asked LC to seek the causation beyond the phenomena of nature. His mother, a musician and a pianist, lived up to age of 100. His first commissions followedthe indigenous practice of Jura Mountains. The book also pays particular attention to LC's formative years. At age 20, Le Corbusier took his first trips through central Europe and the Mediterranean, including Italy, Vienna, Munich and Paris. He worked for Perret (Paris) Behrens (Berlin). Prof Curtis guides us through the stories, some of the emerging agendas of modern and the continuing constants of history. Perret's use of emerging concrete structure system in comparison with LC's Domino is well illustrated. Behrens' influence in industrialization and machination aesthetics is also well portrayed. Then the book introduces grand voyage to the Orient and the Mediterranean. LC's famous sketches of Istanbul, Bursa, Athens, Pompeii, and Rome are well edited by Prof. Curtis to prepare the readers for future assertions of the architect in early projects and late projects. In 1917, LC moves back to Paris. With the help of Amédée Ozenfant, LC now practices as a painter and a Purist. Together they publish the famous L’Esprit Nouveau (The New Spirit), an avant-garde journal. Prof. Curtis introduces to the reader that LC used this journal as a springboard of his career and also a sounding board of his new findings. LC's writings from the journal became the famous book, "Towards Architecture." A prospect reader could easily realize how much one misread LC's book. I think the contents of book and the goal of book is put into the personal history of LC and the public history of the era. Personally, I found Villa Savoye and Ronchamp Chapel and various urbanism strategies quite interesting. Sharp contrast of Villa Savoye's smooth concrete surface years and Ronchamp's Beton Brut years are given fresh interpretations. The rise, fall, and evolution of LC's urbanism is quite an interesting read. Prior to this book, it was hard to differentiate his Radiant City, Contemporary City, and Algiers. In this book, LC's personal state of mind and the client's request and the historical context are provided to really articulate similarities and differences of his early and later urban manifestos. The real strength of this book is that it's an exciting page after page. For example, texts about Ronchamp Chapel, Prof. Curtis writes,"Throughout the proession around the Chapel at Ronchamp, the curves demonstrate that they are no mere graphic trick, that they carry the architect's intentions into three dimnensions (in fact four) with tension and precision. They address the horizon, model light and shade, channel interior and exterior movement, and resolve the internal and external pressures of the building. In Le Corbusier's early works curves usually play agains a retangular gid; here they have a life of their own."Precise rational analysis (like Vlla Savoye) inscribed in intensely moving texts is the true force of the book. The book is a gem because it is new sayings of old sayings. By that I mean, the facts of LC's career and magnificent projects are same as usual, but the way Prof. Curtis delivers them is brand new. As architects, we remember the texts of "Modern Archictrure since 1900", here is another book that is equally memorable, and a book that really matches the works of the LC.

Actually, I bought the book for my husband. He really liked this book better than Curtis' previous book with the same title. Corb is a favorite of my husband's and he has many, many books about him and his work. But, my husband said that Curtis had photos that my husband had never seen before in print.

Just as I need it

Satisfied

So comprehensive and inspiring.

This book is loaded with photos of Le Corbusier's work. The copy I have is from 1986. Some photos are in color. I appreciated photos of Le Corbusier's earlier works. They are a nice contrast to his modernistic work. I also appreciated the photos of the roof top terrace on the Villa Savoye. It shows some warmth in an otherwise cool house.

Brilliant scholarship! Very comrehensive and inspiring! A classic! Excellent Book!!!

This book really gives you an insight into one of Architecture's greats. I bought it to get a general idea of Corb's work, not because it fascinated me, but, as an architecture graduate, because I thought I should. This book opened Corb's work to me.It gives a chronological view of the man's life and work. It features great photos and drawings of his most important works, and some of his less well known ones too. The writing is done so well, giving an insight into Corb's theories and explaining how and why each project came about.I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in architecture who wants to know a bit more about the history of 20th century design, and the impact that Le Corbusier had.

A seminal work on the architecture of this master. No matter how many publications are produced on Le Corbusier, William Curtis simply tops them all. Incitive, fresh and up-to-date.