Towards a New Architecture [Paperback]

Le Corbusier (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 9650060367 | ISBN-13: 978-9650060367 | Publication Date: September 12, 2008

'The only piece of architectural writing that will be classed among the essential literature of the 20th century.' Reyner Banham

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The only piece of architectural writing that will be classed among the essential literature of the 20th century.' Reyner Banham --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: BN Publishing (September 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9650060367
• ISBN-13: 978-9650060367
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where it all began, December 7, 2003

By 

James Ferguson (Vilnius, Lithuania) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Towards a New Architecture (Dover Architecture) (Paperback)

Probably the most important book in Modern Architecture. Certainly the most villified over the years, especially since the death of Le Corbusier. In it he laid the ground work for Modern Architecture, extolling the virtues of an architecture that was the product of the machine age rather than a pastiche of historical styles.

Le Corbusier illustrated the principles which he felt should govern architecture, drawing from historical references such as the Parthenon, but stressing the need to come up with a new proportional system reflective of concrete construction. He had developed the Dom-ino system by this point and had designed a few villas along these lines. Included are wonderful sketches and models of his Citrohan House, which he hoped would be mass-produced like the automobile. He even approached the French car maker, Citroen, in this regard.

He explored low-scale housing solutions based on what he called the "Honeycomb" principle, porous housing blocks that allowed light and air to pass through the buildings for better ventilation and more airy courtyards. He forsaw many of the environmental concerns architecture now faces, despite the many attacks to the contrary.

Le Corbusier would reshape many of his ideas over time, but this book outlines his early view of architecture in the machine age, which led to the quote most often taken from this book, "a house is a machine for living." But, Le Corbusier saw it in much more human terms than his critics have.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must have for Architecture students, July 24, 2006

By 

Kieran D - See all my reviews

This review is from: Towards a New Architecture (Dover Architecture) (Paperback)

Worth the read just for Le Corbusier's description of the effects that a building has on the psyche's of its users. Lots of great line drawings. When reading, remember that the book is a collection of magazine articles, hence the repitition that occurs from chapter to chapter. The book should have been only half as long as it is; a lot of unnecessary filler.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully written and illistrated, August 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Towards a New Architecture (Dover Architecture) (Paperback)

Le Corbousier's mathematical and, at times, brutal approach to architecture is clearly and coherently laid out in this gem of a book. He is very to the point and uses words and ideas that can plainly be understood by his audience. This book is not as bad as some people say it is - Le Corbousier's just not a romantic like the rest of us!