An international symposium reconsidering an exhibition of 156 models of Le Corbusier’s built and unbuilt projects

Since the early 20th century Le Corbusier’s projects have been unavoidable points of reference in architectural knowledge and practice. Their roles, however, have changed historically from avant-garde and polemic statements of icons of the modernist movement, to stigmatised and politically charged constructions, and, in recent years, to contested grounds for reflections on ethical, socially-aware, and ecologically-just practices. His projects, whether built or unbuilt, operate in the tension between architecture imagined and architecture conceived. This space in-between is precisely the quality that turns them into the driving force for progression and reconsideration of the field of architecture. Their discursive, imaginative, and projective qualities have produced socio-spatial imaginaries and expressible fantasies.

The symposium celebrates an exhibition of 150+ models of Le Corbusier’s built and unbuilt projects proposed for 13 countries. It brings together researchers, architects and scholars to revisit Le Corbusier’s Models of Worldmaking examined through various architectural, pedagogical, and theoretical perspectives. The speakers outline a systematic form of enquiry reflecting on key experimental and methodological applications of Le Corbusier’s work, ones that could be catalysts of change or critical reflection on our radically changing profession.

Convened by Dr. Hamed Khosravi and Prof. Igea Troiani

  • 17:30 - 17:45
    Opening & Welcome
    Dr. Hamed Khosravi (LSBU) & Prof. Igea Troiani (LSBU)
  • 17:45 - 18:00
    Conversation: “A Journey Through Le Corbusier’s Forms”
    Layton Reid (UWL) & Rene Tan (RT+Q)
  • 18:00 - 18:15
    Designing the future of the Fondation Le Corbusier
    Brigitte Bouvier (FLC)
  • 18:15 - 18:45
    "A Tale of Two Cultures: Le Corbusier and Britain”
    Prof. Alan Powers (LSA)
  • 18:45 - 19:15
    “Intertextuality and Ecology in Le Corbusier's Design Process”
    Prof. Tim Benton (OU)
  • 19:15 - 19:45
    Panel Discussion joined by all the speakers
    Prof. Igea Troiani (LSBU)
  • 19:45 - 20:30
    Reception & Drinks

Brigitte Bouvier: Brigitte Bouvier, currently Director of the Le Corbusier Fondation (FLC) graduated from the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris and the FEMIS ( the French state film school ). She was Professor of film studies at the Paris 8 University before being appointed Counsellor for Culture in Boston, Poland, and Morocco. She also served as Director for the Cultural Affairs in Toulouse, France.

Tim Benton: Tim Benton is Professor Emeritus of Art History at the Open University. He has been visiting Professor at Columbia University and the Bard Graduate Centre (NYC), Williams College, EPFL (Lausanne) and the Architectural Association (London). His book The Villas of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret has gone through several editions in five languages. Recent books include The Rhetoric of Modernism: Le Corbusier as lecturer (2007), which was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix du Livre sur l’Architecture by the Academie de l’Architecture, Paris, and Lc Foto: Le Corbusier: Secret Photographer (2013). Research on Eileen Gray and the Cap Moderne site has led to his book Le Corbusier peintre à Cap Martin (Paris 2015), which was awarded the Prix du Livre de la Méditérrannée.

Alan Powers: Alan Powers is History Leader at the London School of Architecture. He also teaches for NYU in London and University of Kent. He has written widely on British twentieth century art, architecture, and design, and contributed the introduction to Le Corbusier and Britain (Routledge, 2008). His most recent book was Bauhaus Goes West (Thames & Hudson, 2019).

Layton Reid: Layton Reid is an architect designer and educator. He is founder and Design Director of Desi(tect)ure a research based practice developing propositions which consider the future of polyculture and sustainable cities and the use of emerging materials and processes. He is a champion of IDE in architectural and design education and is co-Founder of Ikenga Organsiation.org whose aim is to transform creative education working with the international Soho House network. Reid is currently the Visiting Professor of Design Research and External Profile at The University of West London where he is developing a new suite of innovative architecture courses. He is concurrently Visiting Professor at ESNE Design University Madrid Spain and Pratt Institute NY.

Rene Tan: Rene Tan, who describes himself as an 'accidental architect', received his BA (double-majoring in architecture and music) from Yale University and his MArch from Princeton University. He is the director at RT+Q (a firm he co-founded in 2003 with partner TK Quek). RT + Q is a practice that works on projects of various types, scales and sizes locally and internationally. He was 'Designer of the Year' laureate of the 2016 President's Design Awards, Singapore--an honour he shares with everyone at RT+Q. The models in this touring exhibition have been made in the office of RT+Q.