Known as “Le Corbusier”, Swiss born French Architect Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (1887-1965) is a name who made his mark on the architecture and urban planning of the 20th Century. The iconic architect, designer, sculptor, artist and author is paid tribute to on the 50th anniversary of his death in 2015 declared “Le Corbusier Year”, with various events all over the world.
Valencia Polytechnic University (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia) is holding an international conference with the collaboration of Paris Le Corbusier Foundation. LC 2015, which will be held at the School of Architecture of the University November 18-20, focuses on the interdisciplinary idea lying behind the creative works of Le Corbusier. Therefore, the conference is open in addition to architects; to fine artists, historians, authors and participants from other creative disciplines. The event, which will accept papers until March 3rd, will announce its participants on April 7.
The long winded project by Sardinian fine artist Cristian Chironi, “My House is a Le Corbusier”, is a program consisting of a journey involving living in 30 Le Corbusier designed homes in twelve countries, for a certain amount of time. The artist, who will continue to produce, moving his studio from one Le Corbusier home to another; considers publishing a work, which assesses how each building’s own character and interaction affected his work, which will question also the architecture of today at the end of the process which will be open to visits and events.
Furniture giant Cassina, as a tribute to Le Corbusier’s death anniversary, revisits the designs of the famed architect; changing colors and leather details. The new LC collection introduced at IMM Cologne at the start of the year, is presented with the hexavalent chromium technology, which is environmentally sensitive and less toxic in the production phase with the addition of color choices, organic leather and microfiber fabric details.
Magnum Photos pays tribute to the famed architect by a selection from Le Corbusier photographs. Photographs, bearing the signature of Rene Burri, show Le Corbusier’s numerous moments in his studio in Paris and his summer holidays in southern France in the 50s and 60s.
In Turkey, TMMOB Architects Association Istanbul Metropolitan Branch Documentary Cinema Club organized a Le Corbusier films screening series. The selection, comprising films in the screening program of Istanbul International Architecture and Urban Films Festival held in October, focusing on India years of the architect; was offered to the audience under the title “Le Corbusier and India”.
The two-volume Modulor published in Turkish by YEM (Building Information Center) at the end of last year; serves as a tribute to the iconic architect in the 50th anniversary of his death. The system named “Modulor” by Le Corbusier is a new system based on the dimensions of the human body and the Golden Ratio calculation, defying the British measuring system “inch-foot” and the meter which were in effect then. Modulor has a separate significance for Turkish readers: Among the example drawings Le Corbusier presents for supporting his argument in the two volumes in which he explains his measuring system; there are sketches of various observations on Saint Sophia, Topkapı Palace and Kariye in Istanbul he visited during his Trip to the Orient in 1911.
