Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris "Le Corbusier"

Okänd, Den moderna stadens födelse, 1933

Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, called "Le Corbusier", was born in 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland. Student in art, he quickly turned to architecture. He moved to Paris in 1917 where he discovered the potential of a new material used in Auguste Perret’s works: reinforced concrete. His thought is focused on the modern and industrial society : "Thus architecture becomes the mirror of the world" (Towards an architecture, first published in 1923). His reflections deal with architecture at different scales: from house to town planning. He strives to keep architecture close to the modern world its and needs.

Le Corbusier’s career began in the year 1915. He manadged to surround himself with numerous collaborators (at La Tourette, the musician Iannis Xenakis). Several projects were under construction when he died in 1965, in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin (Provence, France).

Le Corbusier had the desire to build closer to the needs of man: one space for each function of everyday life. At the Convent of La Tourette, Le Corbusier analysed the rhythms of religious life in three distinct phases: individual life, community life and spiritual life. We can read these three primary functions (live, study and pray) as the great articulations of the convent.

I am passionate about my job. I think you have been made a beautiful convent. I often regret not having a day to spend on a home visit. [...] Alas, my job requires me to be an inveterate traveler, a wandering Peter the Hermit. To conclude, let me say, quite seriously, I had a great joy to undertake La Tourette, to pass to visit you and I thank you for the joy you have given me.

Le Corbusier’s Letter of 15 February 1963 at father Levesque