Arch-de-Villa

Img 1: Guided Tours at Villa Savoye.

Premise

Le Corbusier, the well renowned Swiss-French Architect was one of the pioneers for what we refer to as Modern Architecture. Villa Savoye, a modernist villa designed by him is the epitome of understanding Modernist ideas. It is considered an excellent example to explicitly study the application of The Five Points of Architecture as given by Corbusier. The architect often stated, “The house is a machine for living”. This Villa is an implication of the same idea.

Although this Machine for Living could not be used to serve for it’s designated purpose for long, still this monument, built in the 1930s continue to inspire people from the realm of Architecture worldwide even today.

 

Img 2: Living Area in Villa Savoye.

Insight

Villa Savoye was built between 1928 and 1931 in Poissy which is one of the suburbs of Paris. The house was originally designed for the Savoye family as a country retreat. However, it was later purchased by the neighbouring school post World War 2 in 1958. Several proposals were made to demolish it but it was saved and in 1965 it was designated as an official French historical monument. Later in July 2016, it was also registered as UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The spatial planning at the ground level is a reflection of the Architect’s interest in Technology. He tried to redefine the notions of the functions of a traditional house built during that time to aspire for modern living for the Savoye family. An entrance hall, garage and rooms for the chauffeur and maid completes the ground floor. Whereas all the private areas including three bedrooms (including master bedroom), kitchen, living along with external terraces are placed on the first floor. A series of sculpted spaces on the second floor forms a solarium. 

More details about the minimalistic aesthetics of this Villa can be found here. Recent pictures of the Interior of this Villa can be found here.
 

Img 3: Axonometric view of the VIlla. Credits: Arch 1201- Design Studio 3

Brief of the competition

Villa Savoye, originally designed as a house is now equivalent to a Temple for Architecture students and professionals alike and is currently open for visitors.

How can we maximize and make this monument more conducive to this new function? How can this Villa be made the next Archive Center for Architectural Knowledge? Conversely, is it possible to retain its identity as a Machine for Living and yet be able to serve for the new purpose? And it goes without saying that in the process, the monument should not tamper.  

 

New additions in the complex for the visitors.

 

Objective

The objective of this exercise is to visualise Modernist ideas for the contemporary world. 

The new interior can either be in agreement or challenge Corbusier's ideas in the context of today's technology and architecture. The respective stand taken should be justifiable by the participants.

Programmatically, the proposed fixes should allow for accommodating workshops, exhibitions, small conferences etc. for the visitors apart from the regular VIlla Tours that it already offers. The participants are free to tweak the programs as per their understanding of how can this monument become a Center for Architectural Knowledge.

 

Img 4: Approach path for Villa Savoye

Location

Villa Savoye is located in the western suburbs of Paris in Poissy. The approach to the Villa is designed imagining everyone would arrive in a car. Thus, originally the owner would take a ritualistic entrance by the car around the house between the ‘pilotis’ to approach it. However, with the changed function now, cars cannot be allowed inside. Thus, a new way for the approach and planning at the Site Level becomes key here.
 

Judging Criteria

The entries will be judged by an international jury of the competition on the following criterions:

 

About BOUN

BOUN serves as a unit block for UNI in the field of urban design and furniture design. It serves as a platform for experimentation and conceptual exchange of ideas for urban furniture designs happening at various levels. The program intends to get designers from around the world and encourage them to share their extraordinary design ideas.

Through our urban/furniture design competition at BOUN, we intend to create a dialogue among designers where they have full freedom to create contextual and user-centric design. Our competition will identify and acknowledge young and budding designers from across the globe. This approach towards design would serve in refurbishing the profession’s identity and will help the product to reach masses through our leading media and industry partners.

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