A305/13: Le Corbusier: Villa Savoye

In the context of the exhibition The University Is Now on Air: Broadcasting Modern Architecture, the CCA presents twenty-four broadcasts from the course A305, History of Architecture and Design 1890-1939, by The Open University. To learn more about the project, visit www.cca.qc.ca/A305.
In television broadcast 13, Tim Benton visits Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye, built at Poissy near Paris from 1929-1931, one of the most impressive monuments of the International Style. In a detailed analysis of the building, Benton relates the Villa Savoye to ideas expressed in Le Corbusier’s writings of the 1920s. The motto of the film is Le Corbusier’s phrase: “The house: a machine for living in.“
Written by Tim Benton, directed by Nick Levinson, produced the BBC/Open University, aired 14 June 1975 on BBC2.

[@LambentOrt]

It's a beautiful but haunting (and somewhat oppressive) space, like a monastery.

[@robbedontuesday]

I visited the house in1991 and you have a totally different feeling. We have been tamed to live in cozy oppresive 30sqm apartments, and when you see true architecture you react, you get triggered. It is normal.

[@tuoxie1235]

My heart beats more strongly than usual as I watch this.

[@marcoaslan]

You got to be kidding me. This is demented

[@tuoxie1235]

@@marcoaslan That's nice, thx.

[@marcoaslan]

@@tuoxie1235 Nice living in cement blocks. Demented

[@usneasubfloridana4072]

@@marcoaslan postmodernist moron spotted

[@marcoaslan]

@@usneasubfloridana4072 no I am actually against postmodernism. Haha you crack me up.

[@majorgunn]

The concept, (the five points etc) are genius. The fact that the building leaked from day one, was uninhabitable, the owner left, and within a very short time, the building had to be fully "restored" or perhaps finished might be a better description. It stands as a symbol of his genius and is exciting to visit for aspiring young architects (like it was for me some 30+ years ago). The details are also very interesting. Alas I live in a climate where this building would indeed remain uninhabitable.... however I will never forget my visit and the many sketches. ( I left my camera in Canada on this trip, so I had to draw what I saw.... I recommend this to students. Also go to Ranchamp, which breaks all of the five points. And try to get to Unite... Radiant City Insanity aside, Unite is an amazing building... No I am not a moonie. I think the guy was an evil person... and his letters to his ma are very telling!

[@harenterberge2632]

The house is also extremely leaky and the owners were very unhappy with the results.

[@Danielwilsart]

I have always wanted to live here since I was a kid

[@PressKevinToContinue]

Fantastic video, thanks for sharing

[@Flaneur98]

Architecture history turning point

[@homersimpin664]

Yes. A turn for the worse.

[@marcoaslan]

@@homersimpin664 turning point to a demented world full of concrete and no fractal or biological essence. Just soulless linear rationality. An arrogant break with the past. He stepped in the accelerator without ever considering that he might be fooled by his own ego.

[@DarjanBar]

12:30 the cheap bent wood chairs now cost a fortune "."

[@tomabernathy2368]

Only a problem is, a normal person would go insane living in that environment.

[@troyrayan9554]

you probably dont care but does anyone know of a method to get back into an Instagram account..? I stupidly forgot the account password. I would love any tips you can offer me!

[@Joseph3391399]

It's suitable for a machine, a robot to live in it almost.

[@bernardjharmsen304]

It was inhabited for a mere 8 years.

[@hughcalder6156]

all the charm build quality of an NCP car park ..

[@themise1416]

Wondering if the curving ramp was for getting things up and down on a doily or cart (no elevator and the spiral staircase would be difficult to move objects up an down). For an elderly lady (the owner for who this was built) shuffling up and down the ramp would be difficult. Even the lecturer when he comes down in one shot is almost sliding. Otherwise, If this house was filled with people, children etc., they would soon find a way to make it home. this is just the bones.

[@luzi29]

I like the forms and the use of concrete. But regarding materials I really miss wood and I do not understand the use of white color. Those built in cupboards 🙈

[@ktsnguyenquocdat]

😍😍😍👍👍👍

[@leehughart3160]

Corbu said the materials should create emotional relationships. It leaves me cold and empty.

[@isaactitoquispe2544]

mmm

[@mubarakmusa6781]

Aaaaa

[@CHILLSWITCHFILMS]

oooo

[@chelseas496]

Oyy

[@gamalmeakhael5730]

Thanks for Great video , in my view the interior needs a lot of work to be more warm and comfortable to sit in like to creat corners with natural wood and stone or glass bricks adding beautiful plants wth nice comfortable leather chairs. The interior is too rich that needs rich imagination as well

[@marcoaslan]

The entire thing should be demolished and burned to the ground ... you can also throw Duchamp urinal with it

[@mlouwagie]

06:13 le corbusier's drawing is a garden on the top...put some plants up there france...yews are poisonous

[@teddy4534]

It's not clear from the drawing what species of plant it is on the roof I think, just looks like squiggles to me

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

It is impossible to live inside a polemical exercise..

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

@Sumaiya Akter Do you not understand the narration?

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

@Sumaiya Akter I'm not anybody's 'dude' but sure,I'll try to help.

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

@Sumaiya Akter Press the three white dots on tye top right ofbyour screen while this plays.. A menu comes up then press "Captions" after which you select 'English (auto-generated). Then you should get subtitles as this was an Open University program from the 70's. Hope that helps.If not,ill have to do some kijd of line by line summary as there's a lot to get through..especially since I'm no Corb fan!

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

@Sumaiya Akter Does this help?

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

@Sumaiya Akter I don't like Corb. Overrated. Now if you're doing an essay abt Hans Scharoun or Adolf Loos,I'll write it for you! In my yr1 my go-to architects were Mies, Herzberger & Kahn..Tip from me: Don't worry abt grades, STUDY the reasons why the best did what they did..All the best!

[@awonoto]

What a sad looking villa.

[@aggiesjc]

I agree. Cold and grim.

[@aggiesjc]

Several words come to mind as I watch this -- cold, hard, grim, austere, unwelcoming, unattractive, frightening.

[@luigifava4357]

just as "cars to drive" must be beautiful and satisfy the eye, the same should "houses to live in". In my opinion there is nothing more unwatchable, less welcoming, protective and reassuring, less evocative and less inspiring, than this villa. I look at it and it doesn't send me anything. No emotions. I so much prefer Wright's architecture.

[@IcelanderUSer]

Sounds like you have a problem with imagination.

[@aggiesjc]

I agree. Very forbidding place. Stark and grim.

[@marcoaslan]

This is one of the reasons contemporary architecture lacks a soul

[@IcelanderUSer]

Looks like a budget Mies or Johnson home of similar design. If you’re going to hang walls why build it in such a way that you don’t need to hang anything. Normally the hanging allows large glass walls. Needless to say I’m no Le Corbusier admirer. His ideas of modern living were the worst ever imagined. Large towers surrounded by grass fields in dense cities. No one uses the fields, or they get used for suburban style structures like parking lots or one story strip mall stores. Nothing is built to the property line like most other buildings. He’s a Republicans idea of an architect. Make people drive and live in a suburban hell.

[@gc-tm1tv]

LC destroyed architecture.

[@TantricViper]

No matter how anyone rationalizes corbusier's modern industrial white elephant, the proof of his failure as an archetect is revealed in the fact that most conspicuously nobody does (or apparently would want to) live in the "house" pretentiously called villa savoye! What good is a house that cannot even meet the simple functional requirement of being a home? However, that is not to say that corbusier's monument to corbusier was less than that of any of his peers, e.g. Farnsworth which also failed as a home.

[@aggiesjc]

Good point about it being empty. I would not want to live there, and can see why nobody else seems to want to. It's a cold, austere place, with nothing appealing about it.

[@chriskappert1365]

As an office it would be perfect , as a house to live in I find it to cold and hard , to " yang " as one would say in Feng Shui . Where are the soft elements , the " yin " ? There is a severe inballance in this construction if it is ment for living in sted of working , making money , busines !