Le Corbusier, Architect of Books (Hardcover)

~ Catherine de Smet (Author)

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Product Description

Meet Le Corbusier--book designer. Coined the "Architect of the Twentieth Century," Le Corbusier's buildings have long been a part of the canon of modern architecture. He was a challenging figure who mainly designed based on his "five points of new architecture," in order to bring man's living up to speed with the technology, aesthetics, and politics of his age. He is infamous for his design of the capital at Chandigarh, India, and well-loved for his the concrete Chapel of Notre Dame-du-Haut in Ronchamp, France. In fact, Le Corbusier is so loved, disliked, or revered for his architecture that his work as a book designer and author is scarcely known and even-more-scarcely documented. Yet, in his lifetime (1887-1965) he meticulously planned and realized over 40 books. And in this publication, Le Corbusier: Architect of Books, these works are thoroughly and comprehensively presented in order to familiarize viewers with the lesser-known book designer. Cathérine de Smet, an art historian and critic with profound knowledge on this aspect of Le Corbusier's work, is our guide through photographs of the books and previously unpublished archive material. At the end of this book, we come to understand the process through which Le Corbusier's books first came into being, and the significance that he accorded to books as an essential medium within his output. Essay by Cathérine de Smet. Hardcover, 6.5 x 9.5 in./250 pgs / 200 color.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Lars Müller Publishers; 1 edition (December 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3037780347
• ISBN-13: 978-3037780343
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #703,595 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Le Corbusier in print, May 6, 2006

By	James Ferguson (Vilnius, Lithuania) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

While this book would be a valuable addition to one's library on Le Corbusier, it doesn't shed any new light on Le Corbusier's passion for publishing. Ever since L'Esprit Nouveau, Le Corbusier worked actively to get his vision of a New Architecture in print. This was a journal he co-published with Amedee Ozenfant in 1920 that captured the spirit of the modern movement both in art and architecture. Towards a New Architecture became the seminal work of the Modern Movement, and the publishing of The Athens Charter, arrived at the second meeting of the Congres Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne or CIAM. provided an even clearer picture of how Le Corbusier envisioned modern architecture. He worked closely with Birkhauser Publishing Company of Germany to produce an ongoing monograph of his work, which eventually culminated in 8 volumes, that is highly valued by contemporary architects.