June 04, 2008

The dazzling town planning of Le Corbusier

Monograph of the New Time Pavilion designed by Le Corbusier for the International exhibition "Art and Technique" of 1937, Des Canons, de s munitions ? Merci ! Des logis … S.V.P (guns, ammunition? No, thanks ! Some sojourn please...) declines the architect's theories which combine social, architectural thoughts and practical realization. Le Corbusier poses a very visionary view on the situation of Paris, he also considers a model for a cooperative village. He identifies the four functions of town planning (live - recreate - work - move) and underlines that modern town planning can no longer operate without the pair home and leisure.

Here is what he (already) said about the misery of Paris:
"Slums
... the lack of air and sunshine, agent of degeneration.
... wells for tuberculosis.
... Proof.
Luxury Slums :
... Where we also grow sickly ... the same courtyards, the same vis-à-vis, but people can recover by a long vacation.
... 33 km of H. B.M. [social housing blocks] have only perpetuate the old formulas.
... In the chaos, noise, foul air, fever, five million beings wear themselves out. "

Currently, the Librairie Loliée offers :
  • Le Corbusier. Des Canons, des munitions ? Merci ! Des logis … S.V.P. Boulogne sur Seine, Éditions de l’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui, 1938, in-4 oblong. First Edition.
  • Le Corbusier. Le poème électronique. Paris, Editions de Minuit, "les Cahiers Forces Vives", 1958, First edition.