by Le Corbusier
Frederick Etchells translated the book from French to English, writes about Le Corbusier in the introduction of the book that he is “a sober minded thinker inspired by a fierce austerity.” This book was written in French for French readers, but it made a significant impact on the fraternity of architects’ worldwide. The book makes us to think about and discover or inquire the direction in which we are heading.
Le Corbusier wrote the text, originally published in 1931, to generate a discourse among the architects. And he advocated the principles of high modernity and functionalist approach to architecture, necessary for further evolution in the age of machines.
In the text, by juxtaposition, he preferred the architect to work as the engineers do for humanity and innovations. He celebrated the innovation of cars as a machine. Automobile as metaphor, inspired him to think about architecture in similar manner. The standardization in automobiles made him to cherish the modernization. He advocated Carl Marx’s theory- equality of every human being (and therefore the needs) and hence, the significance of standardization. The standardization to him was a necessary response to the problem of perfection. “A standard is necessary for order in human effort.”[1]
Corbusier said Michael Angelo- the man of last thousand years. According to him, 17th to 20th centuries separate us from renaissance to modern age and make us to see through modern eyes. Rome does not separate modern age from renaissance through these four centuries. It is necessary to critique, appreciate or verify rather than celebrate it immaturely. “The lesson of Rome is for wise men… to send an architectural student to Rome is to cripple them for life.”[2]
“Architecture finds itself confronted with new laws…Styles no longer exists… There has been revolution in the conception of what Architecture is.”[3] The technology of construction has been changed (new means have been invented) and accordingly the architecture should evolve. That is what he believed.
This book helps us to understand modern study of architecture and therefore the concepts of modern architecture. It influenced architects by this book. This text is considerably significant of the 20th century, for modern architects and modern principles of architecture to understand. The significance continues in 21st century with same intensity.
[1] pg.135, “Towards A New Architecture”, Dover Publications, New York-1986
[2] pg.173, “Towards A New Architecture”, Dover Publications, New York-1986
[3] pg.288, “Towards A New Architecture”, Dover Publications, New York-1986