This week marked 50 years since the death of Le Corbusier, and to commemorate his 78-year career we’ve rounded up a selection of videos and documentaries on the architect. In a myriad of languages, the films cover everything from the historical context of his era to how the Villa Savoye is preserved, and his work in Argentina.
Das Jahrhundert des Le Corbusier (The Century of Le Corbusier)
Some criticize his residential buildings, while others praise his purist clarity: Le Corbusier was a Master of concrete and one of the most important architects of the 20th century. Based on interviews and personal writings, this documentary gives an overview of life at the time: the century of world wars, ideologies and totalitarianism.
* Video is in French and also available in German here.
The Villa Savoye: A Manifesto for Modernity
Pierre-Antoine Gatier, chief architect of Monuments Historiques in France, discusses the management and conservation plan of the famous Le Corbusier house and its site.
La Máquina de Habitar (The Machine for Living)
This documentary focuses on Le Corbusier’s hopes, passions and his work in the city of La Plata, Argentina, where he built the famous Casa Curutchet.
* In Spanish with French subtitles
Le Corbusier - Documentary
This documentary, divided in two parts, looks at the historical context of Le Corbusier’s life and presents information on the life and work of the architect, covering everything from the Unite d’Habitation in Marseille to Chandigarh in India.
Le Corbusier discussing poetry and his work in his apartment in Paris
This brief documentary sheds some light on Le Corbusier’s spirit and way of thinking, presenting his vision behind the Ville Radieuse – an urban masterplan that contains wide avenues for effective transportation and copious green space. The film also discusses his vision behind the Unite d’Habitation in Marseille, a housing project in which “every family has privacy, a view, sun and shade.”
Le Corbusier 2.0
Through beautiful animations, this video by Alix Bossard introduces some of the most famous creations of Le Corbusier: Modulor, Villa Savoye and Les Cités Radieuses.
* In French, with English subtitles.
Villa Savoye - The Five Points of a New Architecture
Andrea Stinga, from OMBÚ Architecture, along with artist Federico Gonzalez created this video, which illustrates how Le Corbusier’s “Five Points of a New Architecture” are implemented in the Villa Savoye.
