Le Corbusier's Architectural Works: Outstanding Contributions to the Modern Architectural Movement

The Architectural Works of Le Corbusier: Outstanding Contributions to the Modern Architectural Movement (Japan)
Registered in: 2016
World Heritage Type: Cultural Heritage
Registration criteria:
•It is a masterpiece that represents human creative talent.
It represents an exchange of values over a period of time or within a culture that has had a significant influence on the development of architecture, technology, monuments, urban planning and landscape design.
- It has a direct or substantial association with an event, living tradition, idea, belief or artistic or literary work of outstanding universal value (this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with the other criteria).

Beautiful buildings by Le Corbusier, who proposed the "Five Principles of Modern Architecture"

"The Architectural Works of Le Corbusier - Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Architectural Movement" was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2016. This cultural heritage site, which consists of 17 assets in seven countries, including the National Museum of Western Art in Ueno, Tokyo, demonstrates the great influence that Le Corbusier had on modern architectural culture.

Le Corbusier (1887-1965), known as one of the "masters of modern architecture" along with Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig van der Rohe, was an architect born in Switzerland and based in Paris, France. Le Corbusier was not only involved in the fields of architecture and urban planning, but also in painting, sculpture, and furniture making, and he left behind many works all over the world. In particular, his "Domino System," a structural system using reinforced concrete that replaced the traditional Western architecture of stone and brick, and his rational and beautiful buildings based on the ideas of the "Five Principles of Modern Architecture," consisting of pilotis, rooftop gardens, free floor plans, long horizontal windows, and free elevations, have had a great influence on modern architectural culture in the 20th century.

The component parts of "The Architectural Works of Le Corbusier - An Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement," the first World Heritage Site to be registered across three continents, are buildings that clearly represent Le Corbusier's ideas. The fact that the component parts are scattered across a wide area, mainly in France, including Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Japan, India, and Argentina, shows that the new concept proposed by Le Corbusier has spread to architectural culture around the world.

The National Museum of Western Art is Tokyo's first World Heritage Site. Learn about its features

If you want to enjoy the charm of "Le Corbusier's architectural works - his outstanding contribution to the modern architectural movement," the first place you should visit in Tokyo is the National Museum of Western Art, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site. This building, known as the only building left in Japan by Le Corbusier, was completed in March 1959. The reinforced concrete building, which has three floors above ground and one below, features Le Corbusier's architectural features, such as the "Domino System" and the "Five Principles of Modern Architecture." In addition, Le Corbusier is known for pursuing the concept of an "infinitely growing museum" that can expand as the number of exhibits increases when designing a museum. The National Museum of Western Art, which adopts a spiral corridor and a floor plan that can expand in a spiral shape, is also highly regarded as a building that incorporates this idea. Another feature is that the dimensions are designed based on the "Modulor" measurement system, which was devised based on the dimensions of the human body and the golden ratio. The National Museum of Western Art is packed with the essence of this master of modern architecture. The National Museum of Western Art, which exhibits Western paintings from the late Middle Ages to the early 20th century, as well as modern French sculpture by artists such as Rodin, is a valuable cultural heritage site that is worth seeing at least once, in addition to its impressive collection of works.

Europe, Argentina, India... Le Corbusier's architectural works are scattered around the world

The architectural assets that make up the "Le Corbusier's Architectural Works - Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Architecture Movement" are located in 17 locations across seven countries. In France, where Le Corbusier was based, there are 10 of his architectural assets, including the Villa Savoye and Gardener's Cottage, which embodied the "Five Principles of Modern Architecture." In addition, in Switzerland, there is the "Little House on Lake Geneva," a private residence built by Le Corbusier for his parents, and the first apartment building, "Immeuble Clarté." In Germany, there is the "Weissenhof Siedlung House," which was exhibited at the Siedlung housing exhibition held in Stuttgart in 1927. In addition, the "Curutchet House" in Argentina is the only house he designed in South America. In addition, the "Capitol Complex of Chandigarh" in India, where Le Corbusier carried out urban planning, is also registered as a World Heritage Site.

Europe, Asia, South America... Le Corbusier's buildings have had a major impact on architectural culture around the world. From small mansions to public buildings and urban planning, the footprints of this master who left behind so many works are a must-see for anyone, even if they're not an architecture fan!

Travel writer/Toru Yoshihara

This article on World Heritage Sites has introduced the charm of Le Corbusier's architecture, but there are other World Heritage Sites designed by other great architects! Other World Heritage Sites worth visiting include "Major Urban Residences of Architect Victor Horta (Brussels)" (Victor Horta, inscribed in 2000), "Villa Tugendhat in Brno" (Mies van der Rohe, inscribed in 2001), and "The City of Le Havre Rebuilt by Auguste Perret" (Auguste Perret, inscribed in 2005).

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*Some content was updated on September 6, 2019.