'Folks who hardly relevant to architectural seemingly find a fair villa have no interesting or even looks like other regular modernist house, but who have interior or architecture based, apparently well-known "Villa Savoye"
is a prototype of modern house tendency.'
Established in 1928, in Poissy, the outskirt of Paris, accordingly I'd traveled from Milan to Paris with friends which we basically architectural designer but to visiting Villa Savoye we had two on going the mission. It was August, 2019 during temperature seem to pleased us, we weren't freezing so we'd spent half day morning reached to Villa Savoye by train from Paris. We just off to Poissy train station and twenty minutes leisurely walked through city to there, you may seen signate indicated you are here in front of the Villa. Walk through pathway among the garden
until the way revealed the villa. Even me and friend come from distinct culture we'd been taught of the
history of design influencing Modernist architectural and his significant five principles of architecture, In this point we succinctly conclude, Le Corbusier baking a new approach towards Modernist design of architecture. Further explanation of these, the five principles consist of
Pilotis is supporting a structural of the villa which lifted off the ground reinforced concrete stilts free-standing, in this point, they offering increased open space also seemingly created lower corridor allowed a pathway outside through inside fluidity providing a new aesthetic. Pilotis related with the two points following.
Free ground plan since they polishing the constraints of internal walls supporting with a chance of the floor space was free to configure into rooms or free layout planning.
Free Façade moving structural supports into interior provides non-structural walls sets the façade free from structural constraints as a consequence of concrete frame construction to purposely break the rules free the design.
Horizontal Windows a consequences of Free Façade, horizontal windows replaced themselves, long strips ribbon windows that allow unencumbered views.
Opened Roof the last condition offering the outcomes as flat roof top which nature occurring, as a garden and terrace its advantage protection to the concrete flat roof, you may take a promenade continually by climb up the ramp it remains another roof terrace.
Well, I think I launched a brief completely above, let's move to the details.
Through the entrance there's a dense garden which appeared only gravel pathway, follow the trail until end, it will revealed a villa, the property was once purposed as attends summer residence of Savoye family, in this point its appearance is explicit applied for summer period, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret (Corbusier's cousin) being contacted and commissioned by Pierre and Eugénie Savoye in 1928, spring and built between 1928 - 1931 under a conceptual of the “machine as a home”
A particular architectural is a hybrid of visual art and architecture, using reinforced concrete structural, introduced steel, glass and finishing with white skin entirely as purism material which later determined one of the most significant contributions and influenced modern architecture in the 20s, a light air box shape detaching from the ground which remains opened space filled by a garage turning capability of a car, a particular space connecting with main entrance, climbed up to upper floor is corridor divided between privacy and public space, apparently indicated two sides of function by floor tiles. A residence function area appeared on the first floor mostly spatial interplay between interior private/public areas, let's hop to interior unit, the spiral stair case represented itself as a white plaster concrete sculpture which laid down reflexively attuned interior spaces, its appearance created peaceful when you staying in a particular area. The world was in industrial revolution period influence individuals material pre-fabricated parts were used to construct the villa.
"Progress brings liberation. Reinforced concrete provides a revolution in the history of the window. Windows can run from one end of the façade to the other."
− Le Corbusier
While the iconict house seemed to be highly attractive and desirable, the rumor had Villa Savoye was uninhabitable and displeased by the Savoyes, themselves, WHY?, I got clue about there're some of following letter conversations between Le Corbusier and landlady said : “It is raining in the hall, it’s raining on the ramp and the wall of the garage is absolutely soaked……It is still raining in my bathroom, which floods in bad weather, as the water comes in through the skylight. The gardener’s walls are also wet through.” and another proof “After innumerable demands, you have finally accepted that the house you built-in 1929 is uninhabitable…Please render it inhabitable immediately. I sincerely hope that I will not have to take recourse to legal action.” it was believed that Villa has caused of deteriorating health of Eugénie Savoye but some sources said it is caused their son instead, at this point it is obvious that his reputation quite challenging to becomes disrepute since he is attempting his works enhancing individual heath state, and the proof remain undiscovered that how the Swiss prosperous architects dealing with a mentioned issues.
"A house is a machine for living in."
− Le Corbusier.
Anyways, Savoyes family remains their presence until 1940, after a significant events World War II has occurred and leaving during the war, then the outskirt of Paris and property including Villa Savoye were occupied twice, which the first time by German troops invaded and turn into hay store for temporary occasion also left the damage towards the villa according to The destruction by Neglect Wall Label by Arthur Drexler explains "The Germans left they poured concrete down the toilets." and second time by Americans says "The Americans arrived they shot bullets through the windows." The reason of unbehaved only since they've facing with World War II events just to ensure no one could proper functioning or inhabitable Villa Savoye. after World War II was vanished and the peace returned itself, the Savoyes insist to keep their estates by any chance they came back to villa but after estimate a physical damage they unwilling abandoned Villa Savoye very sudden. The property turned into a public vacancies such as public youth centre and a schoolhouse complex while required restoration, protest architect activists has appeared to stand for Villa Savoye restoration, after all their attempts, the restoration was first occurred in 1963 by the advocacy of Jean Debuisson with collaboration of the Ministry of Culture, meanwhile Le Corbusier still living which was the first historical building restoration its architect has his presence and added to the French register of historical monuments in 1965, as it came to be know, Villa Savoye has a radical physical damage it required restoration several phases until restoration completed.
Moreover, its significance in architectural history, under considering by UNESCO has added 17 Le Corbusier projects to World Heritage List since the individuals Modernist movement's most admirable and desirable.
" The house is a box in the air. "
− Le Corbusier
I'd like to leave with the following article from The destruction by Neglect Wall Label by Arthur Drexler.
'Even if it is satisfactorily restored, the Villa Savoye can never again be seen as a pure form in an open landscape, because of the recently built school. No doubt an incomplete success is better than a complete failure, and if the building can still be saved the students in that school will be able to look out of their windows at a Monument Historique that belongs, in a sense, to the whole world.'
Location : Villa Savoye, Poissy, France
Address : 82 Rue de Villiers, 78300 Poissy, France
Open duration : 10 am – 5 pm
©2021 Published & images by Nadtanit Bukkavesa