Villa Savoye and 5 Principles of Architecture

Villa Savoye(1929-1931) is situated in Poissy, out side Paris. Villa Savoye is concrete representation of Le Corbusiers ideal living space, by applying the 5 principle of architecture. Ground floor was meant to be a services division, and the level above is suppose to be the main apartment, and the three levels are dictated by the continuing ramp as the main circulation for public. The ramp works as the main movement devices between space, also contributing as a device to control the natural lighting in the building. The ideal living space is expressed by zoning, meaning there is a staging in the house, separating public and private, service and main living space. The villa represent the quality of modern architecture, which is simplicity in color, no bearing wall, as well as the flat roof.

the design of the villa was based on 5 principles of architecture :
1. support
the main support in the villa is the use of concrete pilotis to raise the building of the ground and support the structure. Le Corbusier believed "the building had to be raised 3-6 meters so that the Villa Savoye could be removed from soil therefore introducing it to light and air." The elevated rectangular structure make the building has a feel of lightness. There are no main spaces on the ground floor, as ground floor only meant to be garage and maid rooms.

2 The Free plan
The uses of pilotis throughout the building allows the design having no bearing walls, creating an independent structural system that carries floors separate from the wall, meaning the placement of wall is wherever it desire. No bearing wall considerations result in the ability to create open space without concern of changing in building structure. The idea of free plan also carry on in bringing the landscape under the outline of the building.

3 The horizontal windows
Creating unencumbered views was another advantage of piloti based construction, in which windows can run through the length of the building, framing the nature by hand made structure windows, offering the direct link with the horizon. The windows also allowed views to be seen from all facades from the elevated villa. on the ground floor however, the curvy glass window is used to separate interior from the landscape around. The separation is a modernist movement in creating an interaction in the house.

4 Free facade
Free facade means free design wall, independent from the load bearing consideration. It is resulting the light wall and long horizontal window throughout the building. This then carry on the idea of the allowance of easier application of regulating line. Le corbusier from the design is wanting to contrast the past construction which dominantly construct in load bearing consideration.

5 Flat roof-roof garden
Le Corbusier has a flat roof for the villa and reinforced concrete was used to construct the roof structure. The flat roof was intended by Le Corbusier to create another functional space in the roof, so that roof become more accessible and livable, and be used for the mean of playground.