Interpretations of the Free Plan in Modern Architecture.

by Jensenpon (student)

University Degree Architecture, Building and Planning

INTERPRETATIONS OF THE FREE PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 3

Villa Savoye: Free Plan and Function 3

Barcelona Pavilion: Relationship of Spaces 5

Conclusion 8

Bibliography 9

INTRODUCTION

Some people regarded the free plan as one of the most influential idea in modern architecture. When a floor plan that is free from any load-bearing wall, the interior articulation can be flexible as there are no limitations on the location of wall placed. Architects can therefore manipulate space according to their wish and concepts. In order to achieve the free plan, technology plays a vital role. The use of reinforced concrete and steel made the structure free from any load-bearing walls.

The idea of the free plan was first published in Le Corbusier’s “Five points towards a New Architecture” 1 in 1926. Corbusier envisioned that new architecture’s ground plan should be “freed”. The supporting systems no longer rely on walls but on other mediums, such as columns.

Hence there is “absolute freedom” in designing the plan, and each floor can be partitioned independently. This declaration was published at the time when Le Corbusier was working on the exhibition in Weissenhof Siedlung, where other architects, such as Mies van der Rohe, were also involved. In this essay, the realization of free plan is analyzed through two famous works by Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe respectively – the Villa Savoye, and the Barcelona Pavilion. Both architects started their projects at the same time, however their interpretation and the outcome of the free plan is drastically different.

VILLA SAVOYE: FREE PLAN AND FUNCTION

Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye was built in 1931 and is situated in Poissy, France2. It is regarded as a great demonstration of his “Five Points towards a new architecture”. The five points are: the supports; the utilization of flat roof by a roof garden; the free plan; the use of horizontal windows

for uniform lighting; and the free design of the façade which is made possible by setting back load-bearing columns.

1 Le Corbusier, 1926. “Five Points towards a New Architecture”, In: Conrads, ed. 1970. Programs and

Manifestoes, pp. 99-101.

2 Glynn, Simon. Villa Savoye Possy by Le Corbusier. 2011. (accessed

May 24, 2013).

Fig. 1. Le Corbusier, Villa Savoye, 1928-31, Poissy, France.3

From fig. 1, it can be seen that Corbusier had introduced the main structural members, the pilotis, to make his five points on architecture possible. In particular, these structures are also the key to the free plan of this house.

Fig. 2. Floor Plans. Le Corbusier, Villa Savoye, 1928-31, Poissy, France.4

The floor plans from figure two revealed that there are no common wall structures for each level of the house. Corbusier used pilotis as the main structural components to facilitate a free plan. Therefore each floor has its own characteristics, from a square plan to a round, semi-open plan. There are no clear common organizations of space between floors, and space can be divided and articulated according to the hierarchy, ...