Le CORBUSIER - SWISS Pavilion

Le CORBUSIER - (1933) - SWISS Pavilion (Paris, France) In 1924, Switzerland decided to built its student housing on the University Campus of Paris (Cité Universitaire http://www.ciup.fr/)[48°49'4.82"N - 2°20'31.59"E]. The inauguration took place in July 1933. Considered to be one of "the most free and imaginative structures" of Le Corbusier [http://www.fondationlecorbusier.fr/], the building represents a synthesis of three approaches. The first one advocates the autonomous slab free from any reference to the form of the land site. The second advocates an articulation of the slab by the means of specific functional elements, or a dialogue between industrial and "natural" materials. The third approach applies two of the five points of modern architecture: pilotis in exposed concrete and a roof terrace combining privacy and openness to the sky and sun. In many respects this buildings is a landmark, not only in the terms of Le Corbusier's own future development, but also for other architects who during the second half of the twentieth century developed their approach to architecture based to a considerable extent on Le Corbusier's pioneering experiments. Since 1945, the building has undergone several additional changes by Le Corbusier. In 1948, a wall painting was commissioned to replace the previous photo mural of 1933. In 1953, Le Corbusier transformed the southern curtain-wall in order to reduce the excessive solar impact and in 1957 he added a series of enamelled benches and a new polychromy to the rooms. On September 8th, 1965 the Swiss Pavillion was included in the register, and in 1986 confirmed and classified as a historical monument.