Le Corbusier
Pioneer of modern architecture
Most quoted
"The architect, by his arrangement of forms, realizes an order which is a pure creation of his spirit; by forms and shapes he affects our senses to produce plastic emotions; by the relationships which he creates, he awakens in us profound echoes, he gives us the measure of an order which we feel to be in accordance with that of our world, he determines the various movements of our heart and of our understanding; it is then that we experience the sense of beauty."
— from Towards a New Architecture, 1923
"Architecture is the masterly, correct, and magnificent play of masses brought together in light. Our eyes are made to see forms in light; light and shade reveal these forms; cubes, cones, spheres, cylinders, or pyramids are the great primary forms which light reveals to advantage; the image of these is distinct and without ambiguity. It is for this reason that these are beautiful forms, the most beautiful forms."
— from Towards a New Architecture, 1923
"Architecture is the masterly, correct and magnificent play of masses brought together in light. Our eyes are made to see forms in light; light and shade reveal these forms; cubes, cones, spheres, cylinders or pyramids are the great primary forms which light reveals to advantage; the image of these is distinct and without ambiguity. It is for this reason that these are beautiful forms, the most beautiful forms."
— from Towards a New Architecture, 1923
All quotes by Le Corbusier (365)
Light creates atmosphere. It creates a sense of place and a sense of well-being.
The sun, the air, the trees, the sky, the water—these are the elements of life.
The human being is at the center of everything.
The machine age has brought us a new aesthetic, a new beauty.
The house should be a haven, a place of refuge from the chaos of the world.
The city must be a garden, a place where man can live in harmony with nature.
The straight line is the symbol of human will and power.
The curve is the symbol of nature, of life, of freedom.
The purpose of architecture is to create a better life for humanity.
The city is a living organism, constantly evolving and changing.
The past is a lesson, the present is a challenge, the future is a promise.
The human spirit is capable of great things.
The city is a reflection of society.
The architect is a poet, a philosopher, a visionary.
The essence of architecture is to create order out of chaos.
The true beauty of a building lies in its functionality.
The human body is the measure of all things.
The city should be a place of joy and inspiration.
The architect must be a master of light and shadow.
The city is a stage for human life.
Contemporaries of Le Corbusier
Other Architectures born within 50 years of Le Corbusier (1887–1965).