Chapel at Ronchamp, ( Haute-Saône, France); 1955; Modern architecture

The chapel at Ronchamp is a Catholic chapel in Ronchamp, France. The building was built in the fourth century, and there were two replacements. The first one was the previous chapel burned in lightning with fire accident in 1913. And the other one was destroyed by the German Bombing in 1944. Architect Le Corbusier had in charge to restore the second time, which is the existing chapel with fantastic design in the world.

In the beginning of the plan, Corbusier wanted to restore the building. However, his team had figured out the cost of restoration is more expensive than rebuild the chapel. Furthermore, it would be more efficiency to control budget, materials and labors. He supported by his friends Ledeur Mathey and Pierre Marie Marie Alain Courtrier to make the decision.

Le Corbusier had visited the place in June 1950. He spent time to sketch and walk around the hillside to create a bell shape plan” taking as a starting point the four horizons These are, the plain of Saone, which is opposite to it to the hill of Alsace, and the other side of two valleys. The design is conceived in conformity with these horizons in acceptance of them. “

The design of the chapel is more metaphysical than religious. He used to create a lyrical and plastic space (positive and negative space) to show the idea of “a vessel of intense concentration and meditation.”

The building wall is concrete with sprayed and untreated (gunnite) and whitewashed with a coat of plaster to have a rough surface. The color of walls is Whiteness of lime, and the roof color is light black. Le Corbusier claim that as “frank and loyal”. The roof has composed of a pair of parallel 6-centimeter(2.3inches) concrete shells. The shape of the roof has linked to the crab’s shell. The roof load is not support by the walls, but by sixteen pillars set in the north and south walls.

The building two principal façades face to the south and east separated by a pinched wall in the corner. The southern façade has contained slope and openings for colorful stained glass as normal roman church and the main entrance. The Stained glass will reflect their color on the interior. The eastern façade connects to the outdoor chapel which can fit for ten thousand worshipers. The western façade is a huge wall that has no opening with gutter. The function of this wall is for run rainwater into a receiving pool opposite the building at ground level. It also curves around to the north. And the northern façade can receive light from the gap between the roof and wall to interior and another entrance.

The most fascinating moment in the interior space is the light. The eastern wall can receive light that to make contrast to see the statue of Virgin Mary. The southern façade reflects colorful light from Stained glass to show off a beautiful shining image to visitors’ eyes and the flooring. The north façade become the brightest part of the chapel because of the gap receive light on the white color wall .

Stoller,Ezra.The Chapel at Ronchamp.Princetion Architectural Press,1999.