Description
HE WAS A PIONEER OF WHAT IS NOW REGARDED AS MODERN ARCHITECTURE AND SIXTEEN OF HIS PROJECTS, IN SEVEN COUNTRIES, ARE ON THE LIST OF UNESCO WORLD HERTIAGE SITES. HERE HE CORRESPONDES WITH ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ARCHITECTURAL AND DESIGN MAGAZINES PROBABLY REGARDING HIS DISAPPOINTING FIRST TRIP TO AMERICA, WHICH HE RECOUNTED IN HIS BOOK “WHEN THE CATHEDRALS WERE WHITE: JOURNEY TO THE COUNTRY OF TIMID PEOPLE”
LE CORBUSIER (1887-1965) HANDWRITTEN LETTER SIGNED, “Le Corbusier”, 1 pg, 5.5 x 6.75, 24/1/45, to Mr. Charles Mattlage at Architectural Record magazine [New York], a long-running American architectural and design magazine that’s a major source for design news, architect continuing education, and info on sustainability, houses, projects, and materials. Le Corbusier is the Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, author, urban planner, and one of the pioneers of what is now regarded as modern architecture. The letter was handwritten at the end of WWII, at a time when he was almost sixty years old, and had not had a single project realized in ten years. He did his best to promote his architectural projects with government officials and through his writing projects in books and magazines. His first trip to America is generally considered a failure because it produced no commissions and he would soon publish his bittersweet account of his encounter with America. He described New York City as “utterly devoid of harmony” and that “American skyscrapers have not attained the rank of architecture”. But a few years after this letter Le Corbusier would be chosen as one of the Design Consultants for the construction of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The handwritten letter, in French, with full translation: “Dear Sir, Here’s the title of the newspaper, which can probably be referred to eventually, that notes the beautiful narrative about America….” In fine condition.
$1300 #12886ZWLR
