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| photo: Erling Mandelmann |
Around 1924, Le Corbusier designed a tiny (690 s.f.) house for his parents on the shore of Lake Geneva,
Villa le Lac.With just 40' between the lake and the highway, the house is only 13' wide. The architectural drama here is all about how the huge shift in scale between a modest dwelling and a vast landscape is mediated. Notice the relationship of windows to the horizon in his sketches. A zen view in the garden correlates to the rugged section of the mountain range, while the 36' long window corresponds to the broad sweep of lake and mountain.
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| courtesy of: Fondation Le Corbusier |
The house is 'moored' to one end of the site in order to maximize the garden terrace to the east. The interior has an analogous circuit, creating a wide variety of experiences of the place using modest means.
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photo: Fondation Le Corbusier
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| photo: Fondation Le Corbusier |
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photo: Simon Glynn 2002
The window sill height is calibrated so you don't see the ground, only water.
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| photo: Fondation Le Corbusier |
Le Corbusier's mother lived here 35 years until her death at age 101. Though it is modest in size, I can't imagine it ever becoming confining.
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