chandrew
23-11-2007, 10:26
Chapelle de Notre Dame du Haut, Ronchamp
1951 - 1953
Le Corbusier
Ronchamp is about 30 minutes from Basel-Mulhouse airport. Follow signs for Mulhouse, then Belfort then N19 to Ronchamp. There is a steep road leading from the village up the hill to the Chapel (follow the tourists!)
The chapel is open to the public during the summer. Details on the official website (http://www.chapellederonchamp.fr/).
Corbusier's pilgrim chapel replaced another destroyed in fighting in WW2. The sprayed concrete finish, used on both in and outside surfaces, covers a variety of structural armatures in concrete with rubble (of the old church) between them.
The building is visible from distance heightening the sense of expectation as you get closer. At the gates is a typical rural french house serving as entry desk / tiny exhibition space. My understanding is that this will eventually be replaced by the new Renzo Piano developments.
The main building has two convex and two concave walls. You arrive from the south and are faced by the thickest concave one - nearly 10 foot thick near the door. There is a door here and explanation on a large concrete block. The windows on this wall, apparently random but positioned according to modular proportions.
At the west a gargoyle protrudes bringing rain water down to a pool with a geometric sculpture in unfinished concrete.
You enter the cave-like entrance from the North. The interior is characterized by the contrast between the darkness and piercings of light. There are three wonderful light towers, one whose blood-red painted interior was particularly vivid when I visited. Inside, the chapel is simple with simple wooden pews on the south side. (Photography is not permitted inside hence no interior shots posted)
Outside, to the east, is an open-air altar under a protruding roof. About 40m further east is a pyramid.
To the south in a simpler Corbusier building of 1952, the 'Maison des Pelerins'. This has rooms and dining facilities for pilgrims. To the south of this building are a line of tables designed to modular proportions.
I had waited 20 years to visit. I can only say the whole place is magical and for me magnitudes better than I expected.
Wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_du_Haut)
1951 - 1953
Le Corbusier
Ronchamp is about 30 minutes from Basel-Mulhouse airport. Follow signs for Mulhouse, then Belfort then N19 to Ronchamp. There is a steep road leading from the village up the hill to the Chapel (follow the tourists!)
The chapel is open to the public during the summer. Details on the official website (http://www.chapellederonchamp.fr/).
Corbusier's pilgrim chapel replaced another destroyed in fighting in WW2. The sprayed concrete finish, used on both in and outside surfaces, covers a variety of structural armatures in concrete with rubble (of the old church) between them.
The building is visible from distance heightening the sense of expectation as you get closer. At the gates is a typical rural french house serving as entry desk / tiny exhibition space. My understanding is that this will eventually be replaced by the new Renzo Piano developments.
The main building has two convex and two concave walls. You arrive from the south and are faced by the thickest concave one - nearly 10 foot thick near the door. There is a door here and explanation on a large concrete block. The windows on this wall, apparently random but positioned according to modular proportions.
At the west a gargoyle protrudes bringing rain water down to a pool with a geometric sculpture in unfinished concrete.
You enter the cave-like entrance from the North. The interior is characterized by the contrast between the darkness and piercings of light. There are three wonderful light towers, one whose blood-red painted interior was particularly vivid when I visited. Inside, the chapel is simple with simple wooden pews on the south side. (Photography is not permitted inside hence no interior shots posted)
Outside, to the east, is an open-air altar under a protruding roof. About 40m further east is a pyramid.
To the south in a simpler Corbusier building of 1952, the 'Maison des Pelerins'. This has rooms and dining facilities for pilgrims. To the south of this building are a line of tables designed to modular proportions.
I had waited 20 years to visit. I can only say the whole place is magical and for me magnitudes better than I expected.
Wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_du_Haut)