Villa Savoye in Pictures

The History of Villa Savoye

The Villa Savoye was built by Le Corbusier in 1929, at a location few kilo metres outside of Paris called Poissy. The owners of the house were Emilie and Pierre Savoye and their son. This was to be a weekend house for the wealthy Jewish family. They wanted a weekend retreat for relxation and enjoyment of the countryside scenery. Le Corbusier at that time was driven by his ideas about making a house purely functional, mechanical and minimalistic. He wanted to make the ultimate modern villa which would serve its purpose as a holiday retreat, as well as embrace technology into its structural build up. It was to be the early 20th century's "Machine for Living".

This house which fell into the clasps of urban decay was restored from 1965 onwards. It was severely damaged during WWII. Even before the war started the owners eventually abandoned the house in the late 1930's as structural faults started appearing. They declared it uninhabitable due to multiple leakages around the building and threatened to sue Le Corbusier.

However inspite of the technical faults, this villa's design was way ahead of its time.

Image: Villa Savoye before restoration.

Design Studio 3, Project 1, VILLA SAVOYE

ARCH 1201

Project 1

Building: Villa Savoye

Architect: Le Corbusier

Location: Poissy, France

Timeline: 1929 - 1930 building period. Restored 1965 onwards.

Design Style: Modernism, International Style

Owners: Pierre & Emilie Savoye

Link to the model

Filefront link to the model:

http://files.filefront.com/DM+ARCH1101+finalEXP3ut2/;13920726;/fileinfo.html

The Bridge

Obama's Office viewed from the Bridge

View from the Bridge

Bridge viewed from the back

Inspiration behind Prada's Office

Miuccia Prada is a leader in the Italian fashion world. She is all about delicate thread work, fabrics, intricate details, weaving, patterns and style. Therefore her roofs and elevator resembled folded bundles of unstitched fabric. Lights of softer tones were added to give it a feminne touch and she could get a view of the outside through her red glass screens. Natural light could reach the interior through haphazard slits left on the walls which were carved in a way to resemble interweaving threads. Her space was located below to signify that her position, no matter how powerful, was still lower than Barack Obama.

Prada's Office

Viewing the midspace from the interior. Lighting shades go from pinkish to purple and enhance the wooden floor.

Interior detailing. Slits on walls allow passage of natural light. The slits are inspired by the word "intricate" which is chosen because of the intricate details in her clothing line.

Prada's office allows her to view the outside through her glass screens

Prada's office and meeting space

Prada's office entrance screened with red tinted glass

Prada's office viewd from below

Viewed from the side .

The rumbling roof and bottom part is meant to resemble fabric rolls. Intricacy and interwoven are the words which inspire the slits on the concrete walls.