Concepts

Architecture in the Villa Savoye is imposed on the natural environment, Corb makes no effort to harmonize the structure with its surrounds. In fact it's stark geometry and color are used to make it a symbol of human intellect and achievement rising above nature.

The Grid:
The house uses a simple domino structure (with a simple column grid adjusted to accommodate some functional requirements). This allows Corb to use a free plan, placing walls where he wishes and significantly, allows him to use the free facade with long horizontal ribbon windows. According to him maximizing light coming in.




Circulation:
Circulation is a very significant part of the house's design. The inhabitants arrive via car along a promenade between the columns in the base level, they then enter the building on the ground floor (called the Pilotis by Corb) and proceed up the central ramp to what Corb describes as the Habitation are of the house. They can then either stay there or continue to the solarium. Simon Unwin draws a comparison between this procession and Greek temples where the different levels represent a hierarchy. The ground floor representing a primal existence, the first floor representing humanities advancement above nature and the solarium is where we are close to god.



This progression through states of human existence is facilitated by the vertical circulation with in the building, that is the central ramp and the spiral stair. In building these areas of high significance are denoted by large square tiles laid on a 45 degree diagonal pattern. These areas are highlighted in red in the drawings below. Circulation in the horizontal plane is less significant in the program of the house as the in-habitats remain static in Corb's levels of human existence. Thus these areas are denoted by a much smaller diagonally laid square tile. In the section shown below the green denotes the pilotis level, the gold the habitation and the yellow the solarium and the red the central ramp circulation.