Le Corbusier: The Beginning of an Architect and His Take on Modern Architecture

    Le Corbusier (1887-1965), real name Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, is known to be one of the most age-changing architects of his time due to his works chasing modern ideals of engineering. He was an artist, writer, designer, urban planner and became one of the most internationally influential architects of his time, his works still holding importance and influence to this day. As a person with both artist and architect mind, Le Corbusier combined the functionalism of the modern era and with bold sculptural expressionism. Le Corbusier believed their was beauty in technologies of the time and engineering was the modern way to design both aesthetically and practically.

    Le Corbusier started his carrier after finishing a house build for a teacher, deciding he would become an architect; self-taught architect. He took a series of trips through central Europe where he learned and appreciated various forms of European architecture and discovered fundamental detailing that later formed basis in the conceptual development and structure of his works: contrast between collective spaces and "individual living cells", classical proportions, geometric forms, ways to handle lighting, and the use of landscapes as architectural backgrounds.

    In his book Towards a New Architecture, Le Corbusier argues that purity in the geometrical shapes used to design and create structures was the truest form of architecture. He denounced ancient classic architecture saying that the need for such an amount of decoration was useless and would take away the purity of the structure's original shapes, making the shape itself unrecognizable. Le Corbusier would use his knowledge on cubism as well as purism art to design his builds, furniture and city plans. His structures mainly worked to maximize space and practicality whilst still maintaining minimalist visuals that he believed would be proportionally satisfying to the onlooker, therefore he would design and redesign cities using these classical proportions and simple shapes. 

    In addition, Le Corbusier believed that engineering was what modern architecture needed. The engineers would build their factories using mathematical equations that would maximize practicality and usage. Le Corbusier took inspiration of this and used engineering methods and aesthetics, plus his earlier-mentioned knowledge on cubism, to construct and design his builds and furniture. 

    To summarize, Le Corbusier was and is to this day one of the most influential modern architects and designers of all time. His works are greatly revered and constantly talked about. His opinions on classical architecture, though somewhat controversial, had and still have great influence on architecture; both of that time and know. His works contributed to many new ways of looking at architecture and engineering in architecture alike and how material, lighting and spacing could be handled in this era of architecture.