Le Corbusier and the Non-Representation of Technology

Aesthetic Theory and Construction, 1914–1929

Author’s note: this was originally a paper I wrote for Antoine Picon’s Architecture and Construction lecture course at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, May 1997. I have reproduced it here unedited (except for a few typos and the addition of photographs and drawings), and as such, it will read as a rather stilted academic paper. Eventually, I hope to republish in more engaging prose. Also, I’m now realizing that the notes (numbers in brackets) are no longer visible as sidebar comments, and the bibliography link is broken … when I have some time, I will add endnotes and the bibliography at the bottom of the paper. Thank you for reading; comments welcome. –MC, 10 April 2016

P.S. Looks like the notes are working again. –MC, 18 February 2017

P.P.S. Endnotes and bibliography now added. –MC, 9 April 2017

The lesson of the airplane lies in the logic which governed the statement of the problem and its realization. The problem of the house has not yet been stated. Nevertheless there do exist standards for the dwelling house. Machinery contains in itself the factor of economy, which makes for selection. The house is a machine for living in. [1]

The history of Architecture unfolds…