Le Corbusier Poetic Architecture Essay

A poetic architecture looks into a moment when architecture surpasses itself as a physical structure, and instead when it becomes more than just a physical space. Le Corbusier’s church Notre-Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, built between 1950-55 was one of Le Corbusier’s poetic architecture to date. This building was one of his dramatically sculptural designs compared to his earlier works. Although his earlier buildings were very rational in design, Le Corbusier was never completely a materialist, but he was a poet. He is known today for being one of the most influential and admired architect of the twentieth century. He has influenced many and himself the need to elevate architecture from a simple functional construction to a poetic level. What makes the Church at Ronchamp very poetic is the approach where Le Corbusier challenges the users heightened emotions, how the materials in the interior and exterior used is symbolized poetically and lastly the way he evokes a relationship between the architecture and landscape.

A spatial experience is the most complex and diverse of all the sections of determining a poetic architecture, for it involves

Le Corbusier kept natural objects around him to inspire his imagination throughout his life. From the outside of the façade the windows seem tiny, but inside they open up into large white opening that cast reflected light into the dark room. Some of the small windows are painted and they bring in some coloured light into the church. However Le Corbusier’s intention was to emphasize the drama of light and accentuate the holy space. Le Corbusier made use of curved surfaces of reinforced concrete to generate a form that is bold and organic. Since its construction, the building has evoked poetic notions in the mind of the tourist observing the play of shadow and light on different surfaces both on the interior and