RONCHAMP

By Le Corbusier

ADHIRAJ BHATTACHARYA

LE CORBUSIER
Born

Charles-douard Jeanneret
October 6, 1887 La Chaux-deFonds, Switzerland

Died

August 27, 1965(aged77)

Nationality

Swiss / French (from 1930)

Influenced

Oscar Niemeyer, Richard Meier

Awards

AIA Gold Medal (1961)

Buildings

Villa Savoye, France

Notre Dame du Haut, France
Buildings inChandigarh, India

RONCHAMP 1955 ( Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut )

HISTORY
The Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut located in Ronchamp, was a
catholic pilgrimage center dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Chapel
suffered a voracious fire in 1913, consequently was rebuilt in NeoGothic style. In 1944, was bombarded by the Nazis.

HISTORY
In 1950, Le
Corbusier
accepted rebuilt
of the chapel.
After five years of
technical
difficulties and the
constant critic, is
finished in June
1955.

INTRODUCTION
CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM Reinforced Concrete
CLIMATE Temperate
CONTEXT Rural, Mountains
STYLE Expressionist Modern
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Simplicity
Two side entrances
Three chapels
Beton brut roof
Sculpture of the Virgin Mary
Southern facing wall of windows

Oblong nave
Axialmain alter
Three towers
Exterior alter

SITE

SITE
Approach
route of the
chapel is from
the Southeast.
Chapel is
placed at the
high point on
an East West
axis.

THE BELLS

THE RESIDENCY FOR CLERGY

THE MONUMENT OF PEACE

DESIGN THEORIES
Large Embrasures on south wall
The upper two tiers of the
represent the Corvus, Libra
interior windows of the South wall as
Constellation
Virgo constellation

the

That Le Corbusier based his design off

of praying hands, a ship, a bird, a
nuns cowl

Le Corbusier superimposed
Ronchamp II over Ronchamp I

THE DESIGN

PLAY OF LIGHT

THE LIGHT FROM HEAVENS

SHINING OVER THE
CHAPELS

DECORATIONS
Door panels consist of open
hand, star, pyramid,
meandering river, rain, and
clouds

Eight panels

Red and blue symbolize

opposites

STRUCTURE
The structure is made mostly of concrete and is comparatively small,
enclosed by thick walls, with the upturned roof supported on columns
embedded within the walls.

A 6 cm concrete shell
B 10 x 30 cm cast in place lower
beams
C 17 cm thick girders
D 5 x 27 cm pre cast upper roof
beams
E Roof deck 4 cm thick
F Scupper for rainwiater dranage

CONSTRUCTION
Some pictures of the Chapel while under construction in the early 1950s.