Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier

Every day during the trip to Paris, where I stayed, the Eiffel Tower shone brightly and Parisienne walked around with paper bags of French bread.

About an hour from Paris, the train to the Villa Savoye brought me to the town, which was slightly overcast and unglamorous, but a place where I could feel vibes of strength.

Town of Villa Savoye

Villa Savoye is located in the town called Poissy. People often say that there are considerable differences between people living in Paris and the rest of the world. The clerk at the bakery we stopped at on a whim could not communicate in English, but there was a pleasant distance between us. On the other hand, The Parisian clerks who could understand us would reply in French.

Attractions of the Villa Savoye

30minutes walk from Poissy train station. (around 15 minutes by bus) Suddenly an entrance appeared and I arrived at Villa Savoye, which I had always seen in my textbook.

Here, I would like to explain the architectural charm of Villa Savoye.

When architecture was made of masonry (the structure of buildings made of piled up stones, bricks, concrete blocks, etc.), the walls were the structure itself and the design depended on the walls. In such an era, the Industrial Revolution made it possible to mass-produce new materials, which enabled reinforced concrete ramen structures (which the structure is formed by columns and beams only).

This revolutionary technology made possible the five principles of modern architecture: (1) pilotis, (2) free planes, (3) free elevations, (4) horizontal continuous windows (5) rooftop gardens.

1. What is a piloti?

The term used to describe the ground floor of a building, which is the external space, with the volume of the building raised off the ground and the rooms above the first floor.

2.What is a free plane?

Looking at the design of the ground floor, the walls are constructed using curves and glass. This design is only possible because the walls have been transformed into columns as a structure.

3.What is a free elevation?

The design of the first floor shows a bold use of glass to create free space. The walls can now be freely designed.

Refers to a horizontal series of open windows. They allow free openings in the wall and allow light to enter the building evenly.

5.What is a rooftop garden?

The use of a flat roof instead of a conventional sloping roof, and the addition of space on the roof, allows for a connection to the sky. The rooftop space can be enjoyed on two levels via a ramp.

Le Corbusier

He was an architect, born in Switzerland and active in France. He proposed the five principles of modern architecture. He designed buildings in Europe, Japan, India and the Americas, and these buildings were inscribed on the World Heritage List. He was also influenced by Japanese architecture, and sliding doors are used in the Savoie House.

End

It is not easy to understand the importance of this architecture from the modern perspective of ours, more than 90 years after the completion of the Villa Savoye. However, there is no doubt that it was an architectural achievement that has created the everyday landscape we see today, through the accumulation of technological developments and their implementation.

▶︎Video

▶︎Map

▶︎Official website of Villa Savoye

Thank you for reading.