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.

Outlines

00:00

🏗️ Modern Architecture and the Domino House Concept

The first paragraph introduces the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, who began advocating for a new architecture in the 1920s through his magazine 'l'esprit Nouveau' and his book 'Vers une architecture.' He envisioned a modern architecture that would address the industrialization challenges and mass production of houses. Le Corbusier proposed the 'Domino house,' a foundational concept that was more of a diagram than a building, representing a new paradigm in construction using reinforced concrete, glass, and steel. The Domino house was characterized by its three horizontal slabs supported by columns, emphasizing a mathematical and proportional approach to design. It signified a departure from traditional architecture, focusing on functionality and the potential of new building technologies.

05:01

🎨 The Aesthetics of Functional Objects

The second paragraph delves into Le Corbusier's admiration for functional objects, such as grain silos and automobiles, which he saw as the embodiment of pure form. He considered these objects, refined through evolution and use, as 'object types' that represented the materialization of pure form. Le Corbusier's approach to design was influenced by the simplicity and volume of these everyday objects, which he believed could evoke deep sensations when viewed in light. He compared the Greek temple's evolution and refinement to that of a modern automobile, suggesting that both could be seen as 'object types' that could be perfected over time. The key takeaway was the importance of starting with a basic, strict diagram or standard to achieve perfection in design, whether for ancient temples or modern machines.

Keywords

💡L'Esprit Nouveau

L'Esprit Nouveau was a magazine founded by the French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier in 1920. It was a platform for modernist ideas and played a significant role in promoting the architect's vision for a new architecture. In the video, it is mentioned as the starting point for Le Corbusier's propagation of his architectural theories.

💡Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier, born as Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, was a pioneering modern architect with Swiss-French origins. He is known for his innovative designs and theories that influenced the course of modern architecture. The video discusses his ideas on a new architecture and his concept of the 'Domino house'.

💡New Architecture

The term 'New Architecture' refers to the modernist movement in architecture that sought to break away from traditional styles and embrace new materials and methods influenced by industrialization. Le Corbusier's vision for the 'New Architecture' is central to the video's narrative, emphasizing the need for a new approach to design that aligns with the industrial age.

💡Domino House

The 'Domino house' is a conceptual design by Le Corbusier that represents a new way of thinking about residential architecture. It is a structural framework made up of three horizontal slabs supported by columns, which allows for flexibility in interior space organization. In the video, the Domino house is described as a primitive hut of the modern era and a prototype of potential new technology in construction.

💡Mass Production

Mass production is the process of producing goods in large quantities through standardized methods. In the context of the video, Le Corbusier advocates for the mass production of houses using standardized building components as a way to meet the needs of modern society efficiently and effectively.

💡Reinforced Concrete

Reinforced concrete is a building material composed of concrete reinforced with steel bars to increase its strength and durability. It is a key material in modern construction and is highlighted in the video as a technological innovation that enables the new architectural paradigm Le Corbusier envisions.

💡Machine for Living

Le Corbusier described a house as a 'machine for living,' emphasizing the functional aspect of architecture and its role in serving the needs of its inhabitants. This concept is central to the video's discussion of how architecture should adapt to the modern age, focusing on efficiency and utility.

💡Object Type

An 'object type' in Le Corbusier's philosophy refers to objects that have been refined over time to achieve a pure form through evolution of use and production. The video mentions how Le Corbusier admired object types such as grain silos, automobiles, and even everyday items like glasses, for their simple shapes and volumes that evoke fundamental sensations.

💡Volume

Volume, in the context of the video, refers to the three-dimensional space occupied by an object. Le Corbusier believed that the volume of objects, even simple everyday items, could trigger deep, fundamental sensations when viewed in light. This concept is integral to understanding his approach to design and the emotional impact of architecture.

💡Proportional Relationship

A proportional relationship in architecture refers to the mathematical ratios that define the size and spacing of elements in a design. The video discusses how the columns in the Domino house are spaced with a mathematical underpinning, creating a rhythm and rigor that is essential to Le Corbusier's vision of the new architecture.

💡Epic

The term 'epic' in the video is used metaphorically to describe the grand and transformative nature of the changes that Le Corbusier believed were occurring in architecture. It suggests a significant shift or evolution, much like an epic tale, that is driven by the spirit of industry and the advent of new tools and technologies.

Highlights

The French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier (Charles-Édouard Jeanneret) began advocating for a new architecture in 1921 through his magazine 'l'esprit Nouveau' and later in his book.

Le Corbusier described the new architecture as a response to the challenges of modern industrialization, using mass production and standardized building parts.

He envisioned a 'machine for living', emphasizing the need to reconcile modern industrial methods with the architectural heritage of classical Greece and Rome.

In 1914, Le Corbusier conceived the 'Domino house', a revolutionary design that served as a foundational diagram for modern architectural construction.

The Domino house is characterized by its three horizontal slabs supported by columns, representing a new technological paradigm combining mass production, standardization, and reinforced concrete.

Le Corbusier's design of the Domino house was a departure from traditional architecture, focusing on the plan and section rather than elevational surfaces or decorative trim.

The spatial arrangement of the Domino house, with columns set back from the long sides and close to the short sides, established a clear differentiation between the front and back of the building.

The proportional relationship between the bays and footings in the Domino house emphasizes a mathematical underpinning and a rhythmic structure to the design.

Le Corbusier's concept of an 'object type' was inspired by the pure forms and volumes of industrial objects like grain silos, automobiles, and ocean liners.

He believed that even simple, everyday objects could trigger deep sensations when viewed in three dimensions, reflecting the universality of form.

Le Corbusier compared the evolution of the Greek temple and the modern automobile, suggesting that both are examples of object types that have been refined over time.

The architect emphasized the importance of starting with a strict, diagrammatic standard as a basis for achieving perfection in design, drawing parallels between ancient temples and modern machines.

Le Corbusier's work on the Domino house and his theories on new architecture had a profound impact on the development of modern architectural design and construction.

The Domino house serves as a prototype for the potential of new technology in architecture, including the use of reinforced concrete and steel.

Le Corbusier's approach to architecture was not just about creating buildings, but about fostering a 'mass production spirit' for the mass-produced house.

His vision for a new architecture was one that would adapt to the needs of the modern age while still honoring the architectural achievements of the past.

Le Corbusier's ideas have influenced subsequent generations of architects, who continue to explore the implications of his theories in their own work.

Transcripts

[Music]

beginning in 1921 in his magazine

l'esprit Nouveau and later in his book

varanasi texture or toured in

architecture the French Swiss architect

shall Edouard Jean ray or Luca Buchi a

as he called himself wrote what amounted

to brilliant pieces of propaganda for

what he called a new architecture a

great epic has begun there exists a new

spirit industry overwhelming us like a

flood which rolls on toward its destined

ends has furnished us with new tools

adapted to this new epic animated by a

new spirit the problem of the house is

the problem of the epic we must create

the mass production spirit for the

mass-produced house Lavoisier was

beginning here to conjure a new

architecture one that would respond to

the challenges imposed by modern

industrialization the mass production of

houses using standardized building parts

building components but at the same time

he wanted to reconcile these challenges

with the great architecture of the past

which for him make the classical

architecture of Greece in Rome the new

architecture Luke over CA said would be

a machine for living

years earlier in 1914 he had conceived

what he called the Domino house the name

is constructed from the Latin word Dumas

per house and innovation the Domino is

really more of a diagram than a building

you can see it's really a superstructure

look kuba ca called it a chassis onto

which any number of variations of houses

could be outfitted it's a diagram that

is not yet bound by room layout or any

kind of decorative trim actually doesn't

even have an enclosure yet the walls the

elevations are not on it it's all plan

and all section nevertheless the Domino

would be understood as a kind of

primitive Hut of the modern as I say the

Domino is all planet section no

elevational surfaces no wrapper its

proper to understand it really as an

emblem as much as a building a diagram

of a new technological and

constructional paradigm of mass

production standardization repetition

and so forth it's really a prototype of

potential of the new technology of

reinforced concrete glass and steel but

this diagram with the sort of

concentrated energy of slab column

circulation and base contains a lot of

implication that Luka Boucher will

explore for the next several decades in

his houses so let us look at the Domino

in some detail the diagram comprises

three horizontal slabs the first floor

slab is on six sort of box-like footings

that raises it slightly above the ground

and then the columns that seem to go

through the slabs hold up the next two

slabs it's really initially to be read

as a kind of constructional integer a

constructional unit that would be the

basis for any building let's look at it

in more detail the columns are set back

from the long side of the slab and yet

they're very very close to the short

sides of the slab this makes a clear

differentiation between front and

we should remember this because it'll

become very important when we see how

Lou Courvoisier develops that the

columns also mark off equal bays there's

a kind of rhythm there's a rigor there's

a mathematical underpinning to the

spacing of the columns and there's

actually a proportional relationship

between the bays

the footings emphasize the building's

relation to the ground

it's neither buried in the ground nor is

it yet suspended from the ground

it's just pulled up so that there's a

distinction between the slab and the

earth the Domino is an example of what

Luca Boucher called an object tip or a

type of object or an object type in his

early sketches in Si the coup Boucher

celebrates the grain silos in North

America these big cylindrical storage

containers along with automobiles ocean

liners and other accessories of the

machine age that he saw is the

materialization of pure form it was in

part the volume of these object that was

important for him but also the fact that

that they had been refined over time

that they had become pure forms or these

these figural volumes through an

evolution of use and production in his

paintings to ordinary objects of daily

life like glasses and plates or pipes

and bottles guitars and pianos these

appear to him intensely interesting

first and foremost because of their

simple shape the contour but he thought

that volumes viewed in light even simple

everyday objects that were volumetric

figures viewed in life could trigger

deep fundamental sensations and effects

it's an example of what he regarded as

this universal reach of the concept of

objective lucubra she made this

comparison on the left top you see the

Greek temple at paestum on the right is

the Parthenon he understood the Greek

temple as a kind of object II that

had over centuries been evolved and

refined but out of a basic rule had

become more and more perfect below the

Greek temple you see two automobiles on

the left is the oom barek Cabriolet this

is around 1907 on the right is the

Delage Grand Sport of 1921 he compared

the Greek temple with the modern

automobile with the machine to say that

they were both objective that they are

refined over time but also to make the

point that in both cases one has to

start with a standard of strict sort of

diagram of the object in order to move

forward toward perfection the lesson is

that the ancient temple and the modern

automobile our object teep that can be

refined over time but you have to start

with a standard a kind of inaugural

diagram in order to achieve that

perfection

you