Profile of a Sacred Space by Jennifer Hyde

Notre Dame du Haut, Le Corbusier, 1955

General Description. Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, France was designed by Le Corbusier. Built from 1950 to 1955, the chapel commissioned by the Catholic church was a bold move in the modern expressionist period.

Architectural Design. The chapel at Ronchamp is one of Le Corbusier's most extreme modern buildings. It is mainly constructed of cast concrete. Le Corbusier uses massing of walls from four inches to twelve inches thick to develop the sense of subtraction in his design. The heaviness of the building is juxtaposed by delicate uses of light. The light is very controlled through punched windows in the exterior that allow shafts of colored light to flow into the central nave. There are two smaller chapels on each side of the nave that pierce its massive structure. The light is controlled in the two side chapels through skylights. The only color on the building is found in the glazing which allows a very controlled setting in the interiors. The entire design is inspired by The Modulor. Modulor dimensions have been found throughout the design not only in space planning but in details such as the grid on the floor and the Mondrian-esque window designs. Le Corbusier breaks up the massive feel of the chapel by use of membranes such as the alternating concrete membranes found on the roof and texture of the pivoting metal door.

Harmony with Nature. The environment surrounding the site played an important role in Le Courbusier's design. Although it has been argued that the building moves away from the local vernacular of the small village of Ronchamp, the building is in direct response to the hillside on which it resides. The plan consists of four rounded walls which respond to the 360 degree panoramic views one experiences from the site. The chapel can be seen from miles away. The curved forms act as synonyms to the never ending landscapes.

Symbolism and Sacred Objects. The design references three Christian symbols by its resemblance to a dove's wings, praying hands and the shape of a boat. Le Corbusier references the absent sea with the exterior water basin. Le Corbusier believed that although opposites, mountains and the seas were complimentary. The building itself becomes a colossal structure which plays the role of monument on the hillside. Specifically placed windows shine light on important sculptural pieces in the interior of the chapel. Also, the pulpits become additive sculptures to the building making them stand out as significant.

How it is used by Worshippers. The site has been a pilgrimage destination since the twelfth century. The church previously on the location had been rebuilt many times until it was finally destroyed during World War II. The chapel is innovative in its ability to house a few worshippers in the nave and chapels or to host as many as 12,000 pilgrims on the exterior lawn. This is achieved through strategic placement of the altar and pulpits not only inside but on the exterior of the building. This allows the chapel to then become a backdrop for the pilgrims. Designed specifically for pilgrimage, Le Corbusier developed a course of travel up the hillside which takes the worshipper first past a dolmen like hill, then between the youth hostel and parish house where the view of the chapel then rises out of the ground as your final destination point. The pilgrim passes through a ziggurat like altar to the east and the bell tower to the west which then guide the worshipper in a counterclockwise walk around the chapel with planned vignettes at every corner where they eventually find themselves on the lawn with outdoor altar and pulpit.

The Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp could be seen more as a sculpture than architecture though it has and will continue be a momentous pilgrimage for Christians and admirers alike.


Sources:

Gans, Deborah. Le Corbusier guide. 3rd ed. New York: Princeton Architectural, 2006. Print.

Lazzari, Margaret, and Dona Schlesier. Exploring Art with Infotrac A Global, Thematic, Approach. 2nd ed. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2004. Print.

"Notre Dame du Haut, or Ronchamp - Le Corbusier - Great Buildings Online." Architecture Design Architectural Images History Models and More - ArchitectureWeek Great Buildings. Web. 13 Nov. 2009. .