Toward a New Capital by Le Corbusier-A Synthesis of Images with Different Origins

摘要

This study aims to elucidate and situate the design of Chandigarh by Le Corbusier among his whole creative activities. To accomplish the aim I surveyed many documents related to Chandigarh. The result is as follows. On architectural and urban design: (1) His sketch attached to his letter to Yvonne with the date: February 26-28th, 1951, shows that his first image of Chandigarh was linked to the Himalayas and his first image of : a woman holding a baby. (2) I could confirm that his first city plan had a 7/7 square scheme based on an 800 m module. (3) He learned from Indian architecture as follows: (a) local properties: accommodation to Indian climate, (b) universal properties: grand cultures on a grand geometric scale. On pictorial images: (1) I could confirm that his first sketch of Chandigarh in his letter to Yvonne and another sketch with the date: March 3rd, 1951, had his first image of . (2) His serial sketches showing his second image of in Album Nivola 1 were linked with the first creation of Chandigarh, via a sketch among them with the date: March 1st, 1951. (3) The serial sketches were linked with of Poem of the right angle after the first creation of Chandigarh. Finally I could define Chandigarh as follows: it is not only the creation of a new capital, but the creative play of different images, crossing over the boundaries among different genres, brought together under the context (light) illuminating the place.