The architecture of the 20th century Warming-up

1. What works of Le Corbusier can you name?

2. What did Le Corbusier build in Moscow?

3. What other greatest 20th century architects do you know?

Read the text and tell about Le Corbusier's creative activity.

Charles edouard (jeanneret) le corbusier

(1887-1966)

Le Corbusier was the dominant figure internationally in modern archi­tecture from 1920 to 1960.

He proposed the "Modulor", a system of proportions grounded on the golden section or the Fibonacci series using the human figures as its basis, formulated the famous definition of architecture as 'the masterly correct and magnificent play of masses brought together in light'. His comparisons with engineering constructions and with modern forms of transportation were formulated into such oft-misunderstood postulates as 4he house is a machine for living in' and that it should be as practically constructed as a typewriter. By this he meant not a mechanistic 'machine aesthetic1 but rath­er complete rationality in plan, capacity for serial-production and function.

His 'five points for a new architecture': the pilotis, roof terraces, free plan, continuous window strips and free facade composition were to be the essential elements of the new aesthetic.

Le Corbusier's works have become monuments of modern architecture with their general independence of terrain as well as a rich variety of inte­rior and exterior spaces achieved by means of 'double-height rooms, gallery floors, bridges and ramps with views into the interior as well as 'framed' views looking out, all expressions of a genuine luxury in architecture.

Le Corbusier's long period as a leading figure in modern architecture — for nearly half a century — was unique among architects of his time and is, finally, a reflection of his capacity to endow architecture with an expres­sion which evokes the spirit of his epoch. In this sense he was at once the 'terrible simplificateur' in the tradition of the rationalist enlightenment and a creator of forms which will endure well beyond his time.

Among his works are Villa Savoye, Poissy (1929—1931); Pavilion Su-isse, Cite Universitaire, Paris (1930-2); The Clarte apartment house in Geneva (1930-1932); Unite d'Habitation, Marseilles (1947-1952); the urban planning schemes for large North African and South American cit­ies, (the 1930s); the Pilgrimage church of Notre Dame-du-Haut at Rou-champ (1950—1954); the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts (1961—1964); the plan of the city of Chandigarh, India (1950—1951), and others.

Vocabulary

oft-misunderstood — часто понимаемый неправильно

capacity — способность

continuous — сплошной

terrain — местность

ramp — скат, уклон, наклонная плоскость

luxury — роскошь

to endow — наделять, одарять

to evoke — вызывать (восхищение)

enlightenment — просвещение

to endure — выдерживать испытание временем; длиться, продол­жаться

I. Choose the appropriate adjective.

1. Le Corbusier was the ... figure internationally in modern architec­ture from 1920 to 1960.

a) dominant b) foreign c) possible

2. According to Le Corbusier architecture is "the masterly correct and ... play of masses brought together in light ".

a) bright b) wooden c) magnificent

3. Free facade composition is one of his "five points for a ... architec­ture".

a) new b) great c) modern

4. Le Corbusier's long period as a ... figure in modern architecture was unique among architects of his time.

A ) continuous b) leading c) wise

5. Le Corbusier's works have become monuments of ...architecture,

a) modern b) medieval c) native