A Typological Housing Design: The Case Study of Quartier Fruges in Pessac by Le Corbusier

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the methods of form production in Le Corbusier's housing design from a typological point of view and to explore his composite principles of rational housing. Specifically, this paper looks at how Le Corbusier produced spatial variety and unity by applying composite principles to housing design and production. We will take the Quartier Fruges housing project in Pessac as a case study. Here Le Corbusier applied his cellular concept to housing, creating a new typology that first appeared in sketches for this project. Le Corbusier's numerically-based production rules governed the development of each unit's space, while the constructive rules of the housing project's five housing types show how Le Corbusier dealt with the demands of modern housing, and innovated design solutions which can be applied to the spatial design of today's housing. Finally, this paper looks at how Le Corbusier dealt with the spatial characteristics of these five housing types under different conditions.

Reading wellness principles of modern architecture via its examples in Güzelyurt

“…The remaining two housing types are located in a less-favorable location in the base, so the ground level is designed to be working space and the living space is elevated to the second floor. Such spatial arrangement distances the occupants from the outside world, so the design of roof garden is emphasized as compensation (Hsu & Shih, 2005). Associating house with health and wellness could be seen generally in all house designs in modern period.…”

Analysis of the Energy Efficiency of Le Corbusier’s Dwellings: The Cité Frugès, an Opportunity to Reuse Garden Cities Designed for Healthy and Working Life

“…As an urban planning project, the design of the neighbourhood was configured as a unitary and ordered landscape [15], combining social and functional programmes and highlighting the modernity of the neighbourhood for its time [14]. The Cité Frugès in Pessac shows the predominance of the open space of the modern cities conceived by Le Corbusier, with large terraces, courtyards, windows and spaces for the car [36].…”

“…Based on these concepts, included in the five points of modern architecture defined by Le Corbusier, and incorporating his ideas of industrialisation, he designed several modular dwellings as standardised prototypes based on simple combinations [54]. His standardised and industrialised design methodology generates a rationalist architecture that combines numerical rules governing space and constructive rules, creating five housing typologies with different dimensional and spatial characteristics [15]. The Cité Frugès in Pessac was the first practical example where Le Corbusier was able to apply his ideas of standardisation, economy and speed of construction in accordance with the way aircraft and automobiles were built.…”

“…Le Corbusier, with his formulation of the five points of modern architecture [13], is one of the most prominent examples [14] of this group of architects. This article analyses the energy efficiency of houses designed by Le Corbusier, selecting as a case study the villas of the Cité Frugès in Pessac, built between 1924 and 1926, whose design was intended to be an example of standardisation and production line housing and constituted a landmark of social housing typologies [15].…”