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I made it a point to go and see a modernist master

I made it a point to go and see a modernist masterpiece last week while in Paris. About a 30 minute drive west of the city center sits Villa Savoye, built from 1928-1931, by Le Corbusier.

The home sits on a large grass lawn on a private wooded lot. It was designed and built as a weekend home for insurance writer Pierre Savoye.
The modernist home was designed as a “box in the air” with geometric shapes, glass, reinforced concrete and the absence of ornamentation.

The large window wall around the front entrance and plethora of windows on the second floor fill the house with light. The lounge on the second level is separated from the roof garden by a wall of glass that can be opened to join the large spaces.

One interesting design element was Le Corbusier’s implementation of both ramps and staircases to connect the home’s levels. In his eyes the stairway “separates” while the ramp “links”.

Surprisingly the home was rarely used. It was sold to the French state who stated restoring it in 1963. In 1965 the home became a listed building in France while Le Corbusier was still alive. He passed away shortly afterwards. In 2016 it was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site along with 16 of his other works.

He had been working on plans from 1960 onward for Villa Savoye, and would have changed it considerably. I wonder what he was going to change… 🧐

This recently upgraded and restored sports complex

This recently upgraded and restored sports complex in Paris France is a phenomenal example of modernizing rather than destroying and building something new.
Originally built in 1971 this stunning complex sat vacant since 2018 and was restored to serve as a training facility for athletes during the Olympics. Afterwards it will be used by the surrounding community.
Upgrades included new seating, multi-sport floor, HVAC systems, LED conversion, acoustic wood panels, and adding double-skin insulated cladding to the original polycarbonate facade.
Well done. Bravo!
Photos courtesy Antoine Mercusot/Chantillon Architectes

I was walking through downtown Minneapolis and cam

I was walking through downtown Minneapolis and came across this stunning building that I recognized from my studies. The Northwestern National Life Insurance Building by Minoru Yamasaki, 1964.

Stylish, bright and unique 1957 Phoenix home for s

Stylish, bright and unique 1957 Phoenix home for sale.
3 bed, 2 bath, 1788 sqft, built 1957
DM or contact 602.369.5349 for details
Listing Courtesy North & Co.

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