He designed a series of villas and began to theorize on the use of reinforced concrete as a structural frame, a thoroughly modern technique. In 1912, Le Corbusier returned to La Chaux-de-Fonds to teach alongside L’Eplattenier and to open his own architectural practice. In various settings, he witnessed and absorbed the importance of (1) the contrast between large collective spaces and individual compartmentalized spaces, an observation that formed the basis for his vision of residential buildings and later became vastly influential (2) classical proportion via Renaissance architecture and (3) geometric forms and the use of landscape as an architectural tool. He made three major architectural discoveries. These trips played a pivotal role in Le Corbusier’s education. His travels included apprenticeships with various architects, most significantly with structural rationalist Auguste Perret, a pioneer of reinforced concrete construction, and later with renowned architect Peter Behrens, with whom Le Corbusier worked from October 1910 to March 1911, near Berlin. L’Eplattenier insisted that his pupil also study architecture, and he arranged for his first commissions working on local projects.Īfter designing his first house, in 1907, at age 20, Le Corbusier took trips through central Europe and the Mediterranean, including Italy, Vienna, Munich and Paris. Perhaps because of his extended studies in art, Corbusier soon abandoned watchmaking and continued his studies in art and decoration, intending to become a painter. L’Eplattenier taught Le Corbusier art history, drawing and the naturalist aesthetics of art nouveau. There, he fell under the tutelage of L’Eplattenier, whom Le Corbusier called “my master” and later referred to him as his only teacher. His family's Calvinism, love of the arts and enthusiasm for the Jura Mountains, where his family fled during the Albigensian Wars of the 12th century, were all formative influences on the young Le Corbusier.Īt age 13, Le Corbusier left primary school to attend Arts Décoratifs at La Chaux-de-Fonds, where he would learn the art of enameling and engraving watch faces, following in the footsteps of his father.

Early Lifeīorn Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris on October 6, 1887, Le Corbusier was the second son of Edouard Jeanneret, an artist who painted dials in the town’s renowned watch industry, and Madame Jeannerct-Perrct, a musician and piano teacher.

Le Corbusier's painting emphasized clear forms and structures, which corresponded to his architecture. In his architecture, Le Corbusier chiefly built with steel and reinforced concrete and worked with elemental geometric forms.

Corbusier towards a new architecture