Good and inspirational design is eternal. Some artists have the ability to transcend time and touch the hearts of many generations with their artistic visions. One example of a timeless designer is Charles-Édouard Jeanneret. He renamed himself Le Corbusier (inspired by his grandfather’s name, Lecorbésier) in 1920, when it was trendy for artists in Paris to adopt a single name. Le Corbusier was a 20th century renowned Swiss-French architect, designer, writer, and one of the pioneers of modern architecture. His designs combined the practicality and functionalism of the modern design movement, alongside bold expressionism. He was the first architect to use a type of rough-cast concrete, which enhanced his artistic sense of asceticism. He also wanted to improve the housing conditions of people in large cities, since many of them lived in bleak poverty. Highly vocal against capitalism, Le Corbusier claimed that people’s dwelling size should depend on the size of their family, and not on how much money they have. Largely self-taught, the abundant and diverse works in his resume prove that he was ahead of his time; his design structure still resonates to this day. His most notable and acclaimed architectural works include the Villa Savoye outside Paris, Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, France, and the Unité d’Habitation in Marseille.
In addition to creating fresh, innovative, and inspirational designs, Le Curbosier also had a very idiosyncratic color palette, practicing architectural polychromy. Complementing the color composition used by artists in the years 1939 and 1959, Le Corbusier divided his color keyboards based on moods and the specific function of each color. For example, the former would be displayed in “sad” or “happy” colors and the latter would be divided based on weight, depth perception, psychological effects on the viewer, and so on. Furthermore, he also wrote a book about color theory that was published around 1930, with theories and introductions in four languages, 62 wallpaper samples, and 12 pages dedicated to his personal perception of color.
Nowadays, most architects and interior designers use his color keyboard to make the visions of their clients come to life; hence the ripples and effects of Le Corbusier’s work are evident after so many generations passed. He shaped the perceptions of modern architecture and modernity itself.
Very interesting!