DOMINO

Summary

The video script discusses the visionary ideas of French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier, who advocated for a 'new architecture' in response to the industrial age. Beginning in 1921, Le Corbusier, through his magazine 'l'esprit Nouveau' and later in his book 'Vers une Architecture,' proposed a mass-produced, standardized housing model called the 'Domino house.' This concept aimed to reconcile modern industrialization with classical architectural principles, using reinforced concrete, glass, and steel. The Domino house, more a diagram than a building, represented a new technological paradigm with its three horizontal slabs supported by columns, emphasizing a mathematical underpinning and a clear differentiation between front and back. Le Corbusier's work also celebrated the pure form of industrial objects like grain silos and automobiles, which he saw as the materialization of objective types refined over time. He believed that, like ancient temples, these modern forms could be perfected through an evolution of use and production, starting with a foundational diagram.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ Le Corbusier, a Swiss-French architect, began advocating for a new architecture in the 1920s, which he saw as a response to modern industrialization.
• 📖 His vision was articulated in his magazine 'l'esprit Nouveau' and his book 'Vers une architecture', where he promoted the idea of a new spirit in architecture.
• 🏗️ Le Corbusier believed that the problem of the house was central to the new architecture, emphasizing the need for mass production and standardization in building.
• 🏡 The 'Domino house' concept, proposed by Le Corbusier, was a foundational diagram for modern architecture, focusing on a structural framework rather than decorative elements.
• 📐 The Domino house was characterized by its three horizontal slabs supported by columns, which provided a clear differentiation between the front and back of the building.
• 🔢 There was a mathematical and proportional relationship in the spacing of the columns, emphasizing a rigorous and systematic approach to design.
• 🌱 Le Corbusier's approach to architecture was influenced by the 'Objectif' concept, appreciating the pure form and functionality of objects like grain silos, automobiles, and ocean liners.
• 🎨 He saw ordinary objects as having the potential to trigger fundamental sensations and effects, valuing their simple shapes and volumes.
• ⚙️ The Domino house was a prototype that explored the potential of new technologies such as reinforced concrete, glass, and steel in construction.
• 🏛️ Le Corbusier compared ancient temples to modern machines like automobiles, suggesting that both could be refined over time from a basic, strict diagram to achieve perfection.
• 🌐 He emphasized the universal reach of the 'objective' concept, indicating that both everyday objects and grand architectural structures could embody pure form and functionality.

Q & A

In what year did Le Corbusier begin to propagate his ideas on a new architecture?

Le Corbusier began to propagate his ideas on a new architecture in 1921, through his magazine, l'esprit Nouveau, and later in his book, Vers une architecture.

What does Le Corbusier refer to as the 'problem of the house'?

Le Corbusier refers to the 'problem of the house' as the challenge of creating a mass-produced house that responds to the challenges imposed by modern industrialization while reconciling with the great architecture of the past.

What was the name of Le Corbusier's concept for a new type of house, and what does it represent?

The name of Le Corbusier's concept for a new type of house is the 'Domino house'. It represents a diagram or a superstructure onto which any number of variations of houses could be outfitted, symbolizing a new technological and constructional paradigm of mass production, standardization, and repetition.

What does the 'Domino house' consist of in terms of its structural elements?

The 'Domino house' consists of three horizontal slabs supported by columns. The first floor slab is elevated on footings, and the columns that seem to go through the slabs hold up the next two slabs.

How does the layout of the columns in the 'Domino house' contribute to its design?

The columns in the 'Domino house' are set back from the long side of the slab and very close to the short sides, creating a clear differentiation between the front and back. They also mark off equal bays, providing a rhythm and mathematical underpinning to the spacing.

What is the significance of the footings in the 'Domino house' design?

The footings in the 'Domino house' design emphasize the building's relation to the ground, ensuring that it is neither buried in the ground nor suspended from it, but rather slightly raised to create a distinction between the slab and the earth.

What does Le Corbusier mean by 'Objet-Type'?

Le Corbusier's term 'Objet-Type' refers to a type of object or object type that has been refined over time to become a pure form through an evolution of use and production. He celebrated such objects for their simple shapes and volumes, which he believed could trigger deep fundamental sensations and effects.

How did Le Corbusier view everyday objects in relation to his architectural philosophy?

Le Corbusier viewed everyday objects like glasses, plates, pipes, bottles, guitars, and pianos as intensely interesting primarily because of their simple shapes and volumes. He believed that even these ordinary objects, when viewed in life, could embody the concept of 'Objet-Type' and trigger deep sensations due to their refined forms.

What is the significance of comparing the Greek temple and the modern automobile in Le Corbusier's philosophy?

Le Corbusier compared the Greek temple with the modern automobile to illustrate that both are examples of 'Objet-Type' that have been refined over time. The comparison emphasizes the importance of starting with a standard or a strict diagram of the object to achieve perfection in design.

How did Le Corbusier's vision for the 'machine for living' in the new architecture relate to the 'Domino house'?

Le Corbusier's vision for the 'machine for living' was to create an architecture that would be functional, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing, much like a machine. The 'Domino house' was a prototype that embodied this vision, showcasing the potential of new technology in reinforced concrete, glass, and steel to create mass-produced, standardized housing.

What is the importance of the proportional relationship between the bays in the 'Domino house'?

The proportional relationship between the bays in the 'Domino house' is significant as it reflects Le Corbusier's emphasis on mathematical underpinnings and rigor in his architectural designs. This attention to proportion and rhythm contributes to the aesthetic harmony and structural integrity of the building.