Capilla Notre Dame du Haut, Ronchamp - France – Le Corbusier
Generally we mention or know this chapel as the Church of Ronchamp master's work Le Corbusier. The real name of the church is Capilla de Notre Dame du Haut and its author, Charles Edouard Jeanneret Gris from a quien 1918 about it began to be known as Le Corbusier, name derived from the surname of his maternal great-grandmother Lecorbésier.
Le Corbusier born in Switzerland 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Here, Art school, study its principles arts and crafts, was painter and sculptor. Teacher L’Epplatenier once told him that the architect serious and motivated by a fellow art school who wanted to build a home, I was more interested in architecture, the technique and the materials and planned their first home to 18 years convincing his partner who could do, even without being an architect as he himself had raised him.
In 1916 he moved to France where French is nationalizes. There confirmed its sensitivity for art. Although it not officially mentioned architect, It is considered one of the teachers and referents of modern architecture. In France with some friends he founded the magazine L`Espiritu Noveau, art magazine in which, in its first issue also they saw fit to include an article of architecture, which first signing as Le Corbusier, name with which it would be internationally known. In Paris I work in the studio Auguste Perret, who was already dabbling with reinforced concrete construction. I work in Germany Peter Behrens, thus approaching the work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Y Walter Gropius who had worked there. also travel to various countries in Europe incorporating new techniques and trends and then consolidate itself. He founded with his cousin a study 1922 where they worked together for nearly twenty years mainly in residential projects.
Today we can access much information about Le Corbusier and his work. I convenient this little introduction on its evolution and first steps to understand a little better one of his most important works as it is Capilla Our Lady of Hout in Ronchamp, whose project he was commissioned to replace the old church destroyed after the Second World War and to revitalize the center of pilgrimage that had always been Ronchamp.
It's really nice the way that leads us through the French countryside Ronchamp, It increases anxiety while trying to discover behind a group of trees or grove, after a bend in the road or on a hill, something that tells us that there is the chapel ... waiting.
We can call it as in some publications, The Chapel of Light. Built into 1950 Y 1955. La Capilla Notre Dame du Haut Ronchamp o simplemente, It is a Catholic shrine visited by pilgrims and tourists from around the world interested both the religious site as the building itself contains the technical characteristics, proyectuales, artists and aesthetic that Le Corbusier printed both in his work and modern architecture.
In the driveway and promotion, the chapel seems to disappear, her figure surprises us when we are steps away from it, giving us a first glimpse really excites. Implanted on a hill in a very large and surrounded land of green vegetation, located at a point where the horizon facing either side can be seen. This open space, where you breathe tranquility and peace, invites you to stay to appreciate the work on the outside before penetrate inside that will surprise us as much as we had the first sight of the building.
The curvature on its walls to appreciate the work from the outside, almost like a sculpture while give plasticity and special configuration to the interior space. These forms also mark characteristics curves beginning to develop the modern movement. The concavity of the south wall, which it is the first face we see when arriving at the place, It seems to embrace the pilgrim, like the wall This, where an external altar supports.
The plant is simple, a single nave inserted into an oval shape with three chapels, side access, choir, an altar and on the opposite side confessionals. Every detail inside is a sculpture in itself while still being part of a whole in the wonderful inner space. The concavity of the wall behind the inner altar, It allows outside, as I mentioned before, open a space where the place of the altar is generated for outdoor celebrations. The constituent parts of the work were done in concrete, stone, masonry. white walls, gray roof. The floor follows the curvature of the hill, directing the curvature toward the altar. The curvature of the walls also contributes to the special acoustics of the building.
He deserves a separate line the south wall, pouncing variety of windows, with glasses rich in colorful and different sizes, located so that an effect of only mystery to be traversed by light. The windows are like light cones, and traversing the wall width increasing its size from the outside in, since the outer surface of each span is lower in the outer part of the wall on the inside.
The Work calls the visitor to surround fully to appreciate and understand its structure as well enjoy it in its relationship with the external space.
The cover, it also developed with curvilinear shapes, opposite field curvature, It appears to be floating on the building. It is separated from the thick walls for a subtle space, enough to allow entry of light that provides windows with different shapes and sizes, a mystical atmosphere and calls the rest and reflection.
The main entrance is located on the south wall, then south chapel. A portal made of cast iron and decorated by Le Corbusier with colorful drawings on both sides. But nevertheless, after surrounding the exterior of the chapel is likely we will agree by the North gate, also advisable to let ourselves be surprised by the prominence of light penetrating through multiple windows permeating the south wall, opposite to this entry, and the mystical effect generated in the entire space of the chapel. Once there is perceived stillness also brings into space, light entering from above by the gap between the cover and the surround walls.
The interior is a space of meditation and silence. Mainly between white and gray this space where the light coming through the stained glass windows develops, It reflected. Small areas of pure color in some sectors, purpura, yellow, green to extol the site occupied by the image of the Virgin and in the northern chapel is not only the white star, there has been painted red one of its walls, receiving the light creates a special atmosphere of stillness. Both elements inside, such as the cylindrical stoup, the main altar and the altars of the chapels, the pulpit and ladder, as well as minimal furniture, They are of simple lines and fine materials. The confessionals are "dug" on the rear wall, opposite the altar. Banks have a fixed and determined position on a straight platform.
the known Modulor, represented by a man standing with one of his arms raised, is a system of measures used by Le Corbusier in his works and project consisting of short words, in the mathematical relationship between measures of man with those of their habitat so to achieve standardization, harmony and functionality, of course it has been used in the design of the Chapel and its various components.
The building hosting the pilgrims is located strategically in front of the Chapel so that the landscape seen from her, It will not be interrupted by these agencies.
The access road, the space where the igesia of Ronchamp is established, the surrounding landscape, as the chapel itself, make up a fascinating set. Traveled both the exterior and the interior is very pleasant visitors.
located 410 km from Paris, we can arrive at Ronchamp by A5, then N19 Ronchamp through ascend to the hill where it is located Notre Dame du Haut. coming from Belfort we walk about 25 km also for the N 19 to arrive at the Chapel.
Before leaving Ronchamp, if we still have a little time, You can visit the Mining Museum, at 33 Town Hall Square, Ronchamp, where there are part of the history of the mine, working tools are displayed, furniture and other objects of the time. A visit can be done in just over 40 minutes.
