Nurturing dreams: collected essays on architecture and the city, by Fumihiko Maki

Reading aligned with lecture: Brutalism (26/11/14)

Personal summary of reading pages 180-192: 
 

Nurturing dreams: collected essays on architecture and the city, by Fumihiko Maki (2008) [electronic resource] (pp. 180- 192).

This Article shows the reader Fumihiko’s admiration and understanding of Le Corbusier lifespan and named the ‘’Le Corbusier Syndrome’’; this can be described as ‘a single strong impact, followed by waves that diminish with time and duration.’ Le Corbusier had his education, travelled and produced work throughout Europe. This would eventually have a rippling effect towards the young Japanese architects of the 1920’s and 30’s.  Le Corbusier Syndrome has been divided into three periods, which Fumhiko explains well.

 The first period started from the late 1920’s till the 1930’s, pre WWII, and through the 1920’s some young Japanese architects began to visit Le Corbusier works and even become apprentices to him. Through media including magazines in which Le Corbusier featured, Japan grew more and more interest into him as an architect and his ideas. According to Fumihiko this is the ‘period in which the Japanese architectural world began to discover its self.’ Le Corbusier’s infamous five points of Vers une architecture were taken onboard into architectural vocabulary; In particular pilotis, the roof garden and the free plan were  elements that aided his popularity to be seen as a ‘hero and focus of attention to many architects.’

The second period of the Le Corbusier syndrome is apparent through the post war years. …. Japan develops unique style collaborating western culture.

The third period is relevant to after Corbusier passed away. His work was greatly celebrated and his thesis/buildings/designs are still highly influential on the 21^st century architecture we  see today.