1. MODULOR BY ARCHITECT LE-CORBUSIER
LE-MODULOR
1:1.618
Vitrivius man
Golden ratio
architecture
Fibonacci series
Lecture no:5
Date : 05/03/2014
Day : wednesday

2. ABOUT
Undoubtedly one of the greatest architectural minds of
the 20th century, his unique approach using reinforced
concrete, separated him from ordinary architects of his
time.
Le Corbusier was born on October 6, 1887
in the town of La Chaux-de-Fonds,
Switzerland. Although born Swiss, he lived
most of his life in France.
 He trained as an engraver and goldsmith
but, from 1904, he began his studies in
architecture.
In 1943 Le Corbusier applied a similar
interdisciplinary approach to developing
"Modulor", a system of quantity, based
on the male figure and the Golden Mean,
used to determine the proportions of
units in architecture and technology.
This was also the foundation of Le
Corbusier's work in furniture design.

3. • Modular design, or modularity in design is an
approach that subdivides a system into smaller parts
that can be independently created and then used in
different systems to drive multiple functionalities.
UNDERSTANDING MODULAR DESIGN
ABOUT MODULAR

4. THE INITIAL THOUGHT BEHIND THE MODULAR

5. APPROACH
APPROACH
This system is
based on three
aspects:
human
measurements
the Fibonacci
numbers
the golden ratio
LE-MODULAR
Le Corbusier
developed the
Modulor between
1943 and 1955 in
an era which was
already displaying
widespread
fascination with
mathematics as a
potential source of
universal truths.

6. •Le Corbusier created the Modulor following
the steps of Vitruvius, Leonardo da Vinci's
Vitruvian Man, the work of Leone Battista
Alberti, and other attempts to discover
mathematical proportions in the human body
and then to use that knowledge to improve
architecture.
HUMAN MEASUREMENT
VITRUVIAN MAN
•"Vetruvio, architect, puts in his work on
architecture that the measurements of man are
in nature distributed in this manner, that is:
•a palm is four fingers
•a foot is four palms
•a cubit is six palms
•four cubits make a man
•a pace is four cubits
•a man is 24 palms
•and these measurements are in his buildings"

7. THE FIBONACCI
NUMBERS
are a sequence of
numbers where the
first number of the
sequence is 0, the
second number is 1,
and each
subsequent number
is equal to the sum
of the previous two
numbers of the
sequence itself.
FIBONACCI NUMBERS
FIBONACCI SPIRAL

8. THE GOLDEN RATIO
(1.618)
Two quantities are in
the golden ratio if the
ratio between the sum
of those quantities and
the larger one is the
same as the ratio
between the larger one
and the smaller.
GOLDEN RATIO
GOLDEN RATIO
a + b = a
a b

9. LE MODULOR
LE MODULOR
A six-foot (about 183-
centimeter) man,
somewhat resembling the
familiar logo of the
“Michelin man,” with his
arm upraised (to a height
of 226 cm; 7’5”), was
inserted into a square .
The ratio of the height of
the man (183 cm; 6’) to
the height of his navel
(at the mid-point of 113
cm; 3’8.5”) was taken
precisely in a Golden
Ratio.
The total height (from the feet to the raised arm) was also divided in a Golden ratio
(into 140cm and 86 cm) at the level of the wrist of a downward-hanging arm. The
two ratios (113/70) and (140/86) were further subdivided into smaller dimensions
according to the Fibonacci series
The purpose of the Modulor was to "maintain the human scale everywhere"

10.  Le Corbusier explicitly used
the golden ratio in
his Modulor system for
the scale of architectural
proportion.
 The Modulor is
an anthropometric scale of
proportions devised by him.
 It is based on the height of
an English man with his
arm raised
LE MODULOR
LE MODULOR
ARM UPRAISED
VERTICAL MEASUREMENTS
•The graphic representation of
the Modular is a stylized
human figure with one arm
upraised standing next to two
vertical measurements.

11. According to the quantities of
113 and 226, Le Corbusier
developed two vertical
measurements, the red series
and the blue series, which are
descending scales related to
the height of the human figure.
RED SERIES BLUE SERIES
LE MODULAR
LE MODULAR

12. Basic plot:
113, 70, 43 cm.
When these quantities
are combined, they
provided other
measurements related
with the modulor.
For example:
43+70=113,
113+70=183 and
113+70+43=223, these
three results define the
space human body
occupies.
BASIC PLOT
113
70
43
LE MODULOR
LE MODULOR

13. ARCHITECTURAL IMPLIMENTATION
CHANDIGARGH

14. ARCHITECTURAL IMPLIMENTATION
CHANDIGARGH

15. ARCHITECTURAL IMPLIMENTATION
OTHER EXAMPLES
Unite the
habitation
Notre Dame du Haute

16. INTRODUCTION: VILLA SAVOYE,POISSY- FRANCE 1929-31
Introduction
Located in a suburb near Paris
Architect-le corbusier
Constructed-1929-1931

17. INTRODUCTION: VILLA SAVOYE,POISSY- FRANCE 1929-31
Introduction
VILLA SAVOYE IS RELATED TO THE WHOLE RANGE OF LE CORBUSIER’S
ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING
IT IS SITUATED ON SMOOTHLY SLOPING HILL TOP IN MIDST OF FIELDS
IT ILLUSTRATES WITH EXTREME CLARITY AND IS PERHAPS THE MOST
FAITHFUL IN ITS OBSERVATION OF HI FIVE POINTS I.E PILOTIS, ROOF
GARDEN, FREE FLOOR PLAN , ELONGATED WINDOW, AND FREE FAÇADE
PALLADIAN GRID IS FOLLOWED
GOLDEN PROPOTIONS ARE ANALYSED
COLUMNS OF THE BUILDINGS ARE DEFINED BY A SYSTEM OF WALLS
INDEPENDENT OF STRUCTURE
ENTRY TO THE PROPERTY IS THROUGH A GATE AT ONE END OF HIGH STONE
WALL

18. Introduction
Le Corbusier used the golden ratio in his Modulor system for the
scale of architectural proportion.
He saw this system as a continuation of the long tradition of
Vitruvius, Leonardo da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man", the work of Leon
Battista Alberti, and others who used the proportions of the human
body to improve the appearance and function of architecture.
In addition to the golden ratio, Le Corbusier based the system on
human measurements, Fibonacci numbers, and the double unit.
VILLA SAVOYE,POISSY- FRANCE 1929-31
THE PILOTIS
ROOF GARDEN
FREE FLOOR PLAN
ELONGATED WINDOW
FREE FACADE
IDEOLOGY

19. FIVE POINTS OF ARCHITECTURE:
Introduction
Le Corbusier's Five Points of Architecture are best summed up in his work "Villa Savoye".
1) Raised Structure: The bulk of the structure is elevated from the ground and is supported by "pilotis", or, reinforced
concrete stilts. These stilts provide the structural support for the dwelling.
2) A Free Facade: the stilts that support the structure allow for non-supporting walls that can assist the archietct's design
as he sees fit.
3) Open Floor Plan: like the free facade, the open floor plan is made possible by the system of supporting stilts. This
open space was free for the architect to configure into rooms or to re-purpose to fit a certain design.
4) Ribbon Windows: The second floor of the Villa Savoye includes long strips of ribbon windows that allow
unencumbered views of the large surrounding yard. These strips of elongated windows allowed for impressive views of
the exterior and let in a great amount of natural light.
5) Rooftop Garden: The idea of the rooftop garden was to replace the green area that had been consumed by the
building's footprint and to transplant it to the roof of the building., and which constitute the fourth point of his system.
The fifth point was the roof garden to compensate for the green area consumed by the building and replacing it on the
roof.

20. Modular proportions in Villa savoye
Villa savoye
Le Corbusier also put the
concept of golden section into
the facades, using baseline of
12 degrees to determine the
rule of dividing the main parts
as well as the slope of the
central ramp, the positions of
bar windows, the sizes of the
window-pane, the
width ofthe roadway, etc

21. Modular proportions in Villa savoye
Villa savoye

22. PLANS AND VIEWS
Villa savoye
Content…..size : 18/20
Bullets : square
VIEW FROM INSIDE
VIEW FROM OUTSIDE

23. Villa savoye
ABOUT 1/3RD OF THE
SPACE IS OCCUPIED BY
THE ROOF TERRACE
SECOND LEVEL WITH
ROOF GARDEN
LIVING AREA

24. Villa savoye
RAMP TOWARDS TERRACE
LIVING ROOM OPENING TOWARDS
TERRACE (INTERIORS)
ELONGATED WINDOWS

25. MILL OWNERS ASSOCIATION
BUILDING
location Ahmedabad
function auditorium, meeting
room, office
 A ceremonial ramp makes for a grand approach into a triple-height entrance hall.
 Arrival is on the first floor, where the executives’ offices and boardroom are located
MILL OWNERS ASSOCIATION
BUILDING

26. MILL OWNERS ASSOCIATION
BUILDING
 The interior arrangements take full
advantage of prevailing winds.
 the roof is used together with bar for
evening entertainment.
 the assembly hall is constructed of
double thin brick walls panelled in
wood.
 either random or concrete seating 2
vertical tapestries are suspended
from the ceiling for acoustical
purposes.
 the hall is indirectly lighted by
reflections from the curved ceiling,
which in turn is kept cool by 2
gardens and a water basin on the
roof.
MILL OWNERS ASSOCIATION
BUILDING

27. MILL OWNERS ASSOCIATION
BUILDING
MILL OWNERS ASSOCIATION
BUILDING
Plan

28. MILL OWNERS ASSOCIATION
BUILDING
Building characteristic
 The ground floor houses the work spaces of
the clerks and a separate, single-storey
canteen at the rear.
 On the third floor is auditorium with a roof
canopy and a curved, enclosing wall, in
addition to a generous lobby.
 The east and west façades are in the form of
sun breakers , one of Corbusier’s many
formal inventions.
 while avoiding harsh sun, permit visual
connection and air movement.`

29.  On the second floor of the Mill Owners’
Building, the lobby is treated as “an open
space defined by harsh, angular forms.
 And the auditorium as an enclosed space
delineated by soft, curvilinear forms.
 Facades made of rough shuttered concrete, the
north and south sides, built in rough
brickwork, are almost unbroken.
MILL OWNERS ASSOCIATION
BUILDING

30. MILL OWNERS ASSOCIATION
BUILDING

31. UNITE D’HABITATION
Architect: Le Corbusier
Location: Marseilles, France
Project Year: 1947-1952
Area: 386,130 sq.ft
units: 366

32. UNITE D’HABITATION
After World War II, the need for housing was at an
unprecedentedly high. The Unite d’ Habitation in
Marseille, France was the first large scale project for
the famed architect, Le Corbusier.
Completed in 1952, the Unite d’ Habitation was the
first of a new housing project series for Le Corbusier
that focused on communal living for all the
inhabitants to shop, play, live, and come together in
a “vertical garden city.”
Le Corbusier used his system of golden ratio in the
Marseilles Unite D'Habitation in the general plan
and section, the front elevation, plan and section of
the apartment, in the woodwork, the wall, the roof
and some prefabricated furniture.

33. GOLDEN RATIO IN ELEVATION
The elevation of the building is approximately two descending golden ratio
rectangles resting side by side. The boundaries of the individual units and the
openings to the balconies are also perfectly influenced by the golden ratio
rectangle.

34. GOLDEN RATIO IN INDIVIDUAL PLANS
Section of Unité d'Habitation
Floor Plan of Unité d'Habitation

35. ARRANGEMENT OF BLOCKS
Reinforced concrete framing
with model of relationship of
individual units to the larger
organization.
The apartment block is a large rectangular structure of reinforced concrete, 17
storeys high and sitting on massive pilotis. It houses just over 1,600 people. Its 337
apartments are of 23 types, accommodating from one or two up to about eight. Le
Corbusier himself described the structure as like a huge rack into which apartments
slot like drawers.

36. MATERIALS
The Unité
introduced the
world to raw
concrete - béton
brut - with its
texture defined by
the wooden planks
shaping it when it
was pour.
It is specially build up to human scale and also emphasize the beauty of using bare concrete. Le
Corbusier compare the bare concrete of the Unité to human skin, which shows it age and
character it flaws.

37. STRUCTURE
17 storeys high and sitting on massive pilotis.
houses over 1,600 people.
Its 366 apartments are of 23 types,
accommodating from one or two up to about
eight.
Room heights within each apartment are (a
very low) 2.4 m/ 7'5" and (a very high) 4.8 m/
15'9".
On the roof are sculpted ventilation shafts and
facilities for a crèche, paddling pool and
gymnasium.
Another notably 'sculptural' feature is the
staircase at one end of the block.
Decoratively, the board-faced concrete finish is
relieved by little else than a system of red, blue,
yellow and green colored squares

38. STRUCTURE
Common roof spaces
Another interesting aspect of the dwelling unit is to use the roof as a function, being
one of the areas of greatest vitality.
Included:
 an athletics track, 300 meters
 covered gym
 a club
 nursing
 kindergarten
 social space.

39. INTERIOR
Interior
passage way

40. INTERIOR

41. THANK-YOU
PRESENTED BY
Asmita
Anuradha
Aniket
Atit
Annirudha
Kajol
Minal
Mrudula
naman