1. 1.0 Introduction
1.1 Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier, also known as Charles-Édouard
Jeanneret-Gris, was a Swiss-French
architect, designer, painter, urban
planner, writer, and one of the pioneers
of what is now called modern
architecture. Le Corb’ basically design
his building based on his 5 points of
architecture, which is piloti, a free
facade, an open floor plan, ribbon windows, roof garden.
Le Corbusier built 75 edifices in 12 countries and took
on 42 major city-planning projects. He left behind 8000
drawings, more than 400 paintings and pictures, 44 sculptures
and 27 tapestry cartoons. He also wrote 34 books, totalling
some 7000 pages and hundreds of articles. He gave lectures
and has left behind some 6500 private letters, in addition to
his voluminous business correspondence.
Curutchet House, 1949-1953, Maison Jaoul, 1951, Villa
Savoye, 1928, Villa Stein de Monzie, 1926-1928 are some of
his works which with Villa Savoye showing the most of his five
points of architecture.
Le Corbusier once said “Architecture is the masterly,
correct and magnificent play of volumes brought together in
light”.
1.2 Villa Stein de Monzie
Villa Stein de Monzie was built between 1927 – 1928 at
Garches, France. This villa consists of four floors. With
1150m2
in area and 4230 m3
in volume. This luxurious space
was designed for Michael Stein, his wife, Sarah and Gabrielle
de Monzie. It is the first full exemplification of Le Corbusier’s 5
principles which he had introduced. This villa is surrounded by
gardens. (Le Corbusier, by Jean-Louis Cohen, publisher:
Taschen)
2. 1.3 Tadao Ando
Tadao Ando is an architect
which learns and shaped the form
of his building by learning from
others by himself. He had various
careers, including professional
boxer, before he became a self-
taught architect and opened his
own practice in Osaka in 1969.
In the 1970s and ’80s, he executed a series of mostly small-
scale, often residential buildings in Japan such as the Azuma
House in Osaka and the Koshino House in Ashiya.
Tadao Ando first became interested in architecture when he
had accidentally read and got inspired by Le Corbusier’s book.
1.4 Koshino House
The building is build between the year 1980-1984 laying in
Ashiya, Kobe, Japan. It is built in a residential area, suburban, in
the hills of the city. It has an area 242 m2.
The house is organized
into two parallel bodies, joined by an underground passage.
"The house, by Tadao Ando for the designer Koshin, is a
veritable maze of lights and shadows. Like Barragan, the architect
seeks to reconcile the tenets of international modernism with
tradition and landscape, in this case, Japanese. So , The House
Koshin is an example of contemporary architecture built in two
parallel wings that barely interrupt the landscape. "
.
4. 2.0 Massing and Form
2.1 Introduction
Villa Stein was one of Le Corbusier earlier works. Le
Corbusier used piloti which is one of his 5 points of architecture into
this building to allow the free façade to be possible. As for design
concept, he started off with an ordinary shape, a cube, and then
slowly transforms the solid feeling of the cube into a more pleasant
and more persuasive form. Holding strongly to his concept, order,
he uses an ordinary form for the architecture. By adding in order-
representing elements like proportions, repetition and rhythm, it
created a disciplined feeling on the façade of this building.
The form of one building can be divided into many
categories such as shape, size, colour, texture, position, orientation
and visual inertia. (Ching, F., 1979)
For shapes, this villa consists mainly of square and
rectangle. The usage of these shape instil a turgid and strong
feeling to the viewers from the exterior. (Ching, F., 1979)
For sizes, this villa consists of 4 floors with each functional
space with the similar function have similar volume of space.
(Ching, F., 1979)
For colours, Le Corbusier uses only white on the exterior
walls with black metal bars. This is to suppress the over usage of
colours which will steal the identity of the strong villa. (Ching, F.,
1979)
For texture, Le Corbusier introduced white plaster on the
exterior to show the unity of the façade as to signify purity,
innocence and light. (Ching, F., 1979)
For position, this villa is located between faunas and above
a green empty grass land. It’s not only fulfil the clients’ request to be
more intimidate with the environment but also created a strong and
turgid structure in the middle of mother nature which blended
completely well with the surrounding yet bring a strong aesthetic
feeling to the viewers. (Ching, F., 1979)
For orientation, The 2 corner of the villa is facing directly to
the East and West. Combining with the shapes and from of the
structure, it provided maximum natural lighting from the sun. (Ching,
F., 1979)
For visual inertia, this villa’s fixed and ordinary form created
a strong and stubborn characteristic which it holds hits ground
strongly on that specific location. (Ching, F., 1979)
5. Figure 2.1 Villa Stein de Monzie
Shapes and forms like circle, oval, cubical were inserted
into this villa which can be seen from plans and elevations.
From front elevation, an ordinary rectangle is obtained along
with the repetition of the windows, the symmetry view and the a: b:
a: b: a proportions of the placement those utilities
From back elevation, the shape of the building is the same
with the front but there is an extended staircase from the 1st floor
into the garden on the ground floor breaking the symmetry and
covering up the proportions of the villa.
From ground floor plan, a piano-like shape was found being
the surface of the walls, there’s also a spiral staircase which breaks
the turgidity feeling of the rectangle shape of the plans.
From 1st floor plan, a piano-like shape void is introduced to
connect the space between 1st and the ground floor. A bow-shape
wall was also used to separate the dining and the living area.
From 2nd floor plan, a narrow corridor with both sides of the
walls bended slightly outward the corridor to expand the feeling that
the narrow pathway produce, balancing the odds.
From 3rd floor plan, a nearly-perfect-oval was used as the
solarium area on the terrace to break the fix from of 90 degrees
shapes, providing a more unique characteristic to this villa.
6. Figure 2.2 Floor plans of Villa Stein
In the following analysis, the characteristic of Villa Stein de
Monzie is compared with Tadao Ando’s Koshino house. The work
established the aesthetic Ando would continue throughout his
career as an essentially Modernist, coming out of the tradition of Le
Corbusier’s experiments. (Zukowsky, J., 2014)
Tadao Ando is an architect which learns and shaped the
form of his building by learning from others by himself. He had
various careers, including professional boxer, before he became a
self-taught architect and opened his own practice in Osaka in 1969.
In the 1970s and ’80s, he executed a series of mostly small-scale,
often residential buildings in Japan such as the Azuma House in
Osaka and the Koshino House in Ashiya. In these early
commissions, he used beautifully detailed reinforced concrete walls,
a form that gave his buildings a massive, minimalist appearance
and simple, contemplative interior spaces. Similar with Le
Corbusier’s experiments with concrete, his work is also rooted in
the spirituality of Japanese architectural space. Ando’s structures
were often in harmony with their natural environments, taking
advantage of natural light in a dramatically expressive way.
(Zukowsky, J., 2014)
Due to the similarities these two master architects hold and
the fact that Tadao Ando really learn and extract a lot of ideas from
Le Corbusier’s work, it is reasonable why by comparing these two
architecture together can further emphasis each of their
characteristics and advantages. Before going into the comparison,
brief knowledge of Koshino house within the field of massing and
form is needed.
For shapes, this house consists of 2 rectangles and semi-
sphere-like structure. The usage of these shape instil a turgid and
strong through the large span on the site. (Ching, F., 1979)
7. For sizes, this house consists of 3 bodies and has altogether
2 floors. The structure is not large itself but the placement on the
site used quite a large area. (Ching, F., 1979)
For colours, the Koshino house was left with the natural
colour of the cured concrete. The dullness and plainness of the
concrete enhance the aesthetic feeling of the strong characteristic
of concrete. (Ching, F., 1979)
For texture, the house was left with the natural texture of
concrete. This is to maintain the hardness of the concrete in the
structure. (Ching, F., 1979)
For position, The buildings are always situated in respect
with the existing nature and composed around the natural elements
in order to disturb the natural elements as little as possible. That’s
why the Koshino house was built into the slope. (Ching, F., 1979)
For orientation, it is north south orientated. By opening up to
the south. The north side is more important than the south side,
emphasising the importance of the studio in Koshino house. This is
a typical Japanese concept. (Ching, F., 1979)
For visual inertia, the house minimal ornamentation and
plainness of the exterior created a strong and stubborn
characteristic which it holds hits ground strongly on that specific
location. The house was built into the slope to further enhance the
stubbornness. (Ching, F., 1979)
8. 2.3 Comparison
By comparing the massing and form of this villa with Tadao
Ando’s Koshino House which he used some of Le Corbusier
concept, we were able to separate this villa with the other building
and learn how the mass and form of this villa make it so special.
In massing, Tadao Ando used multiple structures in the Koshino
House to represent largeness, turgidity and strong by enlarging the
surface of the plan, creating a larger span, but on the other hand,
Le Corbusier uses a different approach. He used only a single
structure but in a solid cubical form with also represent turgidity and
strong.
For Le Corbusier’s villa, it is a simple form which is located
on a plain field which did not blend well with the surrounding but
something that pops out from the landscape. But for Tadao Ando’s
Koshino House, the form of the structure is similar but the way he
put it on the site which blended with the landscape brings a different
feelings to the viewers. To sum it up, Le Corbusier’s villa sits on the
site, but Tadao Ando’s house sits with the site.
Moving into the transformative techniques each of them
used. Le Corbusier used a variety of transformation techniques
from additive, subtractive to dimensional transformation.
Dimensional transformation is to use the plane of the cube as the
walls of the villa. This is to maintain the identity of the cube using
the plane even though the cube has been subtracted. Subtractive
transformation is to cut out some parts of the cube to form a new
form. Additive transformation is to add new spades or form into the
cube which he added a staircase to connect the surrounding with
the villa itself. Whereas Tadao Ando used minimal transformation
but replace it with multiple structures which fulfil the uses of space.
The transformation technique was also used to create more space
in the villa by Le Corbusier but Tadao Ando used multiple structures
instead but the way it sits on the slope also create the connection
between the house and the surrounding. There were no specific
entrance created by Tadao Ando but rather than door, he created
large opening using subtractive transformation to showcase the
entrance. Le Corbusier used the hanging canopy to emphases the
entrance instead.
As for the symmetrical element which both Villa Stein de
Monzie and Koshino House possess, Le Corbusier balance the
structure using proportion while Tadao Ando balance the structure
using distribution. From the façade of Villa Stein de Monzie, the
used of ribbon windows and the careful placement of the doors,
windows, terraces and openings tidy up everything balancing the
structure from its elevation view; Tadao Ando balance the structure
9. by distributing the larger rectangular shape structure to a side and
the other smaller structures to the other side, balancing it from the
main staircase in the middle of the whole plan. By utilizing the
landscape, both Le Corbusier and Tadao Ando were able to
emphases their point of view. As people approach the Villa Stein de
Monzie, the façade became their first sight of the building; as
people approach the Koshino House, the plan became their first
sight of the building because they approach from the higher side of
the hill.
2.4 Conclusion
The order concept was largely used in Roman and
Greek architectures as their architectures show the beauty of
columns and proportions. To be frank, they invented the art and
beauty of order. As the “order” concept can be obtain in most parts
(plans, elevations, etc.) of architectures during that time, however in
Le Corbusier’s Villa Stein de Monzie, this concept is only obvious in
the elevations. He emphasized that this villa is an exercise which
the exterior of the villa is secondary to the space and functional
elements.
A lot of Tadao Ando works have the characteristic similar to
Le Corbusier’s because Tadao Ando admired and learn a lot from
Le Corbusier. But despite this fact, there were also some
characteristic of their works which separated them from each other.
Both of them like to use simple forms but in different manners. Both
of them did not ornament their façade to keep the initial identity of
the form but yet the way they separate the spaces and connect it
again with the surrounding is distinct. To sum it up, the form of Le
Corbusier’s villa is more to sitting on the site, but Tadao Ando’s
house is more to sitting with the site.
References:
- (Ching, F. (1979). Architecture, form, space & order. New York:
Van Nostrand Reinhold.)
- (Zukowsky, J. (2014). Andō Tadao. Encyclopædia Britannic)
11. 3.0 The External Facade
3.1 Introduction
Source: http://imgbuddy.com/villa-stein-de-monzie.asp
The building of Villa Stein De Monzie is located at the
suburbs of Paris in France which is surrounded by the forests that
have a lot of trees. This building is completely built in the year 1927
which the client is the family Stein that are always lived in the urban
area of Paris. They wanted to have a more quiet and relaxing area
that are move out from the busy life in urban area when they get
older but still could able to get to the centre of Paris for daily goods.
Basically, Le Corbusier built and designed this building based on
his five points of concept in architecture which are the piloti, free
facade, free plan, long horizontal of ribbon window and the roof
garden.
Source: https://mollyizattarchitecture.wordpress.com/2012/09/30/ad-classics-koshino-house-
tadao-ando/
Next, the Koshino House have been selected to be the
comparison analysis of building between the Villa Stein De Monzie.
The Koshino House is designed by the famous Japanese architect,
Tadao Ando and it is located in the Ashiya city that is between Kobe
and Osaka. Tadao Ando built the Koshino House which is a holiday
home for a fashion designer in the year 1980 with two parallel
rectangular blocks at first. Another curved element is added to the
building in the year 1983. Tadao Ando was getting interested in
architecture when he had accidentally read and inspired by Le
Corbusier’s book.
12. 3.3 Comparison between Two Façade Buildings
Symmetry is occurred when the element is equally turned
into two sides that same in size and shape after getting cut or fold.
The overall of the building seems to be not a symmetrical during the
first sight but actually the element of symmetry is placed randomly
in different ways and various parts of the building that made the
building is arranged accordingly that brings out the concept of
proportions. Le Corbusier had used the five points in architecture
and the concept of proportions for the building design of Villa Stein
which also fulfil the requirements from the client. As you can see
from the elevations of Villa Stein below, it accommodates the
symmetrical parts in a vertical direction that occurred in every each
part of the building. Most of the symmetrical elements can be seen
through the front façade of Villa Stein. The long horizontal
arrangement of windows are obviously in the symmetrical way
which is same with the bottom window and the balcony that give a
sense of order to the building. You could also find out the element
of symmetry through the parts of surrounding building such as the
garage on the left side and the windows on the right side below.
Combination of many symmetrical element that are different in
shape and size had made a totally one symmetrical façade in
overall of the building. The other side of the building exterior also
used to be have the elements of symmetry but it is less powerful
and strong as the front facade of the building. On the other hand,
Koshino House is used to be a symmetrical forms with two different
size of rectangular concrete boxes that are arranged in a parallel
way during the year 1980, However, it turned into an asymmetry
element when there is a second renovation to the building which the
circular segment is added into the building and thus becoming the
third element of the building after three years later. Asymmetry is
defined as the sides of the element are not equally in size and
shape when they get cut or fold into half. The picture below shows
the composition of several different buildings is connected and
linked by the covered corridor that turned out the element of
asymmetry based on the overall forms of the building.
Front façade of Villa Stein
highlights most symmetrical
elements.
Source: http://www.timmaier.com/files/architectuuranalyse.pdf
13. Additional of curved element to
the building give an asymmetry
façade.
Source: http://www.smartdad.club/gallery/tadao-ando-koshino-house-plan.html
The Stein couple had requested to have more light to the
building of Villa Stein as they like to show their artworks that
collected by themselves in an open space. Therefore, Le Corbusier
had designed a very open and highly transparency building for
them. You could directly find out that there is lots of windows in
almost all the façade of the Villa Stein and this is not only occurred
in this building but mostly of the architecture that is designed by Le
Corbusier. This highlight the concepts that he used when design a
building which are the light, space and order while this three
elements are also included in the Villa Stein building. Through the
back façade of the building, it emphasize the highest transparency
to the house between the other façade as it contains many long
rows of windows which is big in double size compared other
windows that are arranged horizontally in the order way. This give a
more open character and light to transmit into the house. Based on
the five points in architecture, Le Corbusier had used the iron frame
with small and long glass elements which represents the concept of
ribbon window to give an enclosed character at the ground floor of
the front façade building. Comparing with Koshino house, Tadao
Ando is more concern on the concept of lighting and shadows that
enter to the building with a strong concrete structure. However, the
building is different with the Villa Stein that have a very high
transparency facade as he designed the wall and ceilings of
Koshino House with narrow slits. A limited of light that enters
through narrow slits in walls and ceilings creates an emptiness of
shadows and beautiful space in the house. Large and enclosed
concrete structure with some large windows that facing to the
courtyard from the living room creates a feelings of connection with
the nature. Even though the strong concrete surface of the building
could give an enclosure feelings to people, but Tadao Ando had
designed that there will be enough amount of lights and winds
passing through the building which reducing the feelings of
enclosed that surrounded by the hard and solid wall. Pictures below
show the shadows that create by limited of lights passing through
from the long narrow slits in the corridor which highlight the concept
of lighting to the building.
Long and large row of windows at the back façade transmit lots of
light.
14. Source: http://www.timmaier.com/files/architectuuranalyse.pdf
Narrow vertical
slits that apply at
the concrete wall
of Koshino House.
Source: www.sfu.ca/~ckl27/Portfolio/Design/Slides/KoshinoSlides.pdf koshino house.pdf
The main component that used on the both buildings are
also different but both form a feeling of harmonious to the building
based on the material that used. The key element that used by Le
Corbusier in design which create a strong character to the Villa
Stein facade is the white plaster. The white plaster is typically well
known to be used by the master of modern architecture, Le
Corbusier. Therefore mostly all of his designs in architecture are
found in using the white plaster as the key material to his buildings.
By using the material of white plaster to the main structure of the
house, it strongly gives a feeling of one unity and become an only
one hard solid element even though there are a lot of various type
of elements that used in every each part of the facade. On the other
hand, Tadao Ando had used the concrete as the main material to
the Koshino house. The concrete walls of Koshino House are
constructed as a block-like grid and each of the block is having
holes for the passage of light into the building. The using of
concrete to the façade produces an illusion of beautiful and smooth
textile surface rather than giving the feeling of just a heavy and hard
structure.
15. White plaster is used as the main structure for Villa Stein
.Source: http://www.timmaier.com/files/architectuuranalyse.pdf
Concrete façade
of Koshino
House.
Source: http://adobeairstream.com/art/fifa-in-montreal-framing-design-in-films-on-art/
Through the analysis that made between this two buildings, both
also have some similarities that occurred in the building. Both
masters of modern architecture also emphasize the concept of
lighting to the buildings but in the different way. Le Corbusier
applies a higher transparency with lots of windows to transmit more
light into the villa based on the requirement from the client. Tadao
Ando had designed a narrow of vertical and horizontal slits to the
wall of the Koshino House that brings the amount of light passed
through the slits and it produces a beautiful scenery of shadows in
the spaces.
Besides, both of the architects are also aware on the
principle of nature and bring them to be part of the integral into the
design of architecture. They have a great respect to the nature and
thus their buildings are situated with the existing nature. They also
use natural elements to the building so they could protect the nature
from getting destroy as little as possible in order. Villa Stein is
situated at the suburb area that surrounded with a lot of trees that
give a feeling of blending with the nature. Le Corbusier had
included one of the five points which is the roof garden into the Villa
Stein. He had also brought the nature inside the villa at the first floor
terrace. Based on the Japanese traditional architecture, Tadao
Ando always design and built his buildings by using natural
16. materials as the main component to the buildings. Like, Koshino
House is built by using concrete which emphasize a natural
appearance that remains the original colour and creates a smooth
surface. The building is blend with nature as it partially placed into
the sloping ground of a national park carefully so that it would not
disturb the existing trees on the site.
Villa Stein De Monzie is in contact with nature as it placed in the
middle of forests with many trees surrounded.
Source: http://www.viewpictures.co.uk/Details.aspx?ID=133331&TypeID=1
Picture shows that Koshino House is blend with existing nature
Source: http://www.archdaily.com/tag/tadao-ando/
17. 3.4 Conclusion
To overall the analysis on both façade of the buildings, different
perceptions have different opinions to the building. Le Corbusier is
the master of modern architecture that design the flat façade of the
Villa Stein based on the concept of proportion and the five points
that made it arranged accordingly and in order. However, Tadao
Ando had created a clear and simple appearance with a unity
feeling to the Koshino House that focus on the lighting and shadows
elements even though it looks more rigid compared to Villa Stein.
Not only that, he encourage in using some very basic and massive
material that are environmental friendly to the nature like concrete
which use mainly for the structure of the Koshino House.
References:
-http://www.timmaier.com/files/architectuuranalyse.pdf
-http://imgbuddy.com/villa-stein-de-monzie.asp
-http://www.viewpictures.co.uk/Details.aspx?ID=133331&TypeID=1
-www.sfu.ca/~ckl27/Portfolio/Design/Slides/KoshinoSlides.pdf
koshino house.pdf
-Tan G-Ming, M. (2010, July 1). Sweetlittlething~. Retrieved June 8,
2015, from
http://mariehadalittlelamelamb.blogspot.com/2010/07/perception-in-
architecture-analysis-of.html
-AD Classics: Koshino House / Tadao Ando. (2012, September 29).
Retrieved June 8, 2015, from
https://mollyizattarchitecture.wordpress.com/2012/09/30/ad-
classics-koshino-house-tadao-ando
-Allen, K. (2014, September). Spotlight: Tadao Ando. Retrieved
from ArchDaily : http://www.archdaily.com/tag/tadao-ando/
-Ando, T. (2002). The Spirit of Modernism. (R. Ivy, Interviewer)
2015 Dodge Data & Analytics. Retrieved March 23, 2015, from
http://architect.architecture.sk/tadao-ando-architect/tadao-ando-
architect.php
19. 4.0 COMPONENTS AND ELEMENT
4.1 Introduction
This essay aims to compare the two building from different
architects. The reason of compare the two architects is because
Tadao Ando was inspired by Le Corbusier to interpret it in his own
fashion. According Villa Stein early proposal, it proposes the main
site forces and theme of the emerging design. Le Corbusier was
given the opportunity from the client to build a number of modest
and not-so-modest houses, putting his design theories into practice.
At Garches, he designed the Villa Stein. The primary living floor is
at the piano-nobile level, and the floor turns into a rich porch. The
regularly spaced structural piers permit freely curving interior
partition, while continuous bands of horizontal windows extend
across both the north and south facades. The end height are to a
great extent clear for him, it was viewed as a model for rather
contract rural parts, where the neighboring houses would make
gathering dividers. The major building proportions were based on
Palladio and determined by the Golden Section, the “regulating
traces” being included in the published elevation drawings.
Arrangements of the Villa Stein demonstrate the aftereffects
of the domino framework in a rural estate. The dividers don't
fundamentally adjust to the segment bayous, and the edge divider
can be infiltrated anytime.
Villa Stein de
Monzie by Le
Corbusier
1927 Garches/
Vaucresson near
Paris France.
20. The Koshino House is situated in Ashiya city, between Kobe
and Osaka, at the foot of the Rokko Mountains. This is second
realization of Tadao Ando; it was completed in two phrases (1980-
1981 and 1983-1984).
It was originally the house consisted of two parallel
rectangular volumes, built in 1980. The volume with the entrance
contains a living room, a kitchen and two guestrooms. The other
lower volume, slightly lower on the hill contains a series of room,
where the last two are Tatami rooms. Three years later, a curved
volume component was added at the upper side of the house. It has
master bedroom. The three spaces are connected with a corridor
that is situated under the ground and not visible from the outside.
This house is combination of all fragments of Tadao Ando’s
Architectonical vocabulary, mainly the light.
21. 4.3 Analysis and Comparison
In the Villa Stein design process, he formulated his famous
“Five Points Toward a New Architecture” that are parts of
component in this building; which became a canonical work of
modern architecture. They are:
1. The supports, also called as pillotis, are precisely calculated,
spaced regularly, and used to elevate the first floor off the
damp ground
2. The flat roof or roof garden is used for domestic purposes
such as gardening play, and relaxation thereby recovering
all the built-upon ground for outdoor activities.
3. The interior walls, independent of the support system, can
be arranged in a free plan.
4. The horizontal windows, made possible by the support
system, assure even illumination from wall to wall and admit
eight times as much light as a vertically placed window of
equal area.
5. The facade also independent of the structural support, it can
be freely designed using the unobstructed surface of the
exterior, which can be left entirely open to face a terrace or
glazed extensively for maximum light and ventilation.
Initially situated at the edge of a major dry close Etang de
Saint-Cucufa, a timberland loaded with trees, and indigenous
habitat. Encased by different structures on the other three sides.
The house is the first full embodiment of these standards. As
requested by point 1, the structure of the Villa Stein contains three
solid floor chunks; a framework of sections backings them. The
sections structure coves, with 3.50 meters or 11'5" interims in a
bearing and rotating interims of 5 and 2.5 meters (8'3" and 16'6") in
the other. The supporting structure is therefore separated from
every single other part of the building, consequently expanding the
configuration alternatives. This arrangement of section upheld
structures likewise permit the cellar to be abstained from, or the
building is to be raised over the ground as in a large portion of Le
Corbusier's ensuing venture later on.
22. In contrast, Koshino house undergo the design process where
the implementation of the project adopted a rather special
procedure. For external fragmentation and indoor unit, it emphasize
on 3 volumes, 3 heights, and 3 collections. Implanted home non-
parallel to the boundaries of the land. The diagonal layout effective
in increasing the linear frame, and thus avoids building an additional
floor. It manifests itself primarily in the plan by the non alignment
three volumes and different vacuum values that separate View of
the exterior, mainly the entrance, The Koshino House three blocks
appears completely dissociated, independent. The unity of the
building, expressed usual facade, is found here in plan and buried.
It therefore includes the house as inside. The natural terrain hides
the spaces linking these three divisions. Whereas the liaison hidden
by the natural terrain areas.
For Villa Stein, in light of Le Corbusier point 2, the idea of
having the south half if the highest section in the Villa Stein is a
rooftop porch ensured at either end by screen dividers. Its most
sculptural component is a circular tower, additionally called as
solarium, was initially proposed to hide as water tank. It is open by
a winding staircase from room; it served as a post or watchtower
from which to appreciate the visual nature of Paris out yonder. The
top floor is committed in totality to adequate patios. A rectangular
window opens toward the front of the house yet more windows
spread generally into the greenhouse.
23. Contrast with Villa stein, Tadao Ando utilized steel rail as a
part of such a route as to propose a convention dry greenhouse,
generally as the faintly lit hallways inside, evoked the conventional
dim insides, topped the level rooftop. License regular light through
restricted openings in the roof. Taking after the slanting of the
ground, he guides its long more open south veneer. It additionally
constrains visual of the field towards the cove: and the house turns
its country byways, making between the volumes of shut spaces
themselves close, for example, the internal course.
In Villa Stein, the steel staircases, together with the railings
around the opening over the third floor patio, make a quick
relationship with a watercraft deck. It reflects Le Corbusier's 5
focuses propose what has turn into a most noteworthy development
of advanced building design, the open arrangement. Unhindered by
bearing dividers, the space between the floor and roof pieces allows
any course of action of subdividing parts. White mortar is most
predominant material utilized on the divider. By utilizing it the house
alludes as one solidarity and one strong component.
In Koshino house, it is not symmetrical, with the parts not
masterminded correspondingly indistinguishable on both sides of
the focal pivot. It makes a feeling of balance by the game plan of
two arrangements of types of diverse size and shape. The staircase
in the center goes about as the line of symmetry and both sides
have lopsided parity.
24. In Villa Stein, most of the partitions for these spaces fill within
the orthogonal grid of the columns, which they often incorporate.
The curved walls introduced on all floors echo the pure, taut forms
in Le Corbusier’s paintings of the period. The orientation of space
above mentioned can’t be achieve without the column interval with
their emphasis on the central bay suggest a Palladian rhythm. The
reappearance of the same 2:1:2:1:2 ratio or A: B: A: B: A on the
exterior is somehow of a surprise, since in his last two points Le
Corbusier had proclaimed in the independence of the façade, where
the structural supports removed to the interior, the design of
facades is limited only by the requirements of the rooms. This
compact regular framework reduces the energy level and degree of
fragmentation of the other scheme and successive design. Both
main facades of the Villa Stein are elaborate compositions. They
contain the long ribbon windows Le Corbusier had declared to be
the most efficient source of daylight for any room. Ribbon windows
are running on the outer wall. Long strip windows need an
equivalent continuous space. Harmonize the continuum of windows
and space. Divided into 2 different zones, contrast with the form of
the horizontal continuous windows in both the rear and entrance
facade.
Arranged symmetries and volumetric emphasizes guide the
guest towards the primary passage, which is ensured by gigantic
yard. The rotation of straightforward and strong groups gives the
façade vertical beat. The veneers are given further request by what
Le Corbusier called the directing lines that focus their general
association. For instance, the stair leading from the second floor
terrace to the garden parallels the imaginary diagonal that
intersects the rectangle of the façade; and because the vertical line
of the central bay interrupts the stair before it reaches ground level,
Le Corbusier in his preliminary drawing provided a grass mound as
footing that replaced by conventional landing in the future. The
larger area forms a square that, repeated identically on the front,
shows a symmetrical arrangement of the hall window and the
garage door on either side of the service entrance. White plaster is
25. most dominant material used on the façade and wall. By using it the
house refers as one unity and one solid element. Innovative and
complete denial of constructive structure in the image presented by
the façade, and the renunciation of constructive order associated
with modern. Horizontal strip windows celebrate assertive
independent.
In Koshino House, the structures are separated in a more
private and a more open part. The further you investigate into the
building the more security it gives. The division is in connection to
the matrix of the development. A passageway that is arranged
under the ground and not obvious from the outside unites the three
volumes to one another. The hallway flanks a yard and has an
atelier that is totally underground. A bend is included the future to
counter the rectilinear plan. This crescent shape atelier is adjacent
to the living room. It creates a strong contrast to the rigid
composition of the two existing bodies; and completes the entire
composition. Combine with Vertical slot windows in the flanking
concrete walls. Widely used to make large glass windows
throughout the house, to permit light and the use of zenithal light in
the living room, and offer view to the garden.
The exteriors react quietly to changes in light, which indicates
dynamic methodology; henceforth it responds contrastingly
accordingly with geometry. It underscores profundity and strength of
the dividers and communicating light and wind cuts cut off from the
outside. Negligible trimming utilizing light and makes concentrate on
article. Square like framework, every piece having six-uncovered
opening produced using formwork. Brilliant covering makes
homogeneous surfaces. The structure is apparent from inside and
outside, there is no dubbing. Tadao Ando has preferred to coat
26. insulation through the roof and the floor under the lower floors. The
temperature inside the frame is a minimum comfort. The concrete is
as a flat wall holes punctuated by a frame. The concrete slabs
module is set to the size of a tatami (0.90X1.80m). The concrete
has a significant amount of reinforcement (seismic regulation) and
several (indoor lighting) at the end of construction, concrete is
sanded and dusted, a water-repellent coating maintenance every 2
years. For constructive system in Koshino House, in the building
that contains the bedrooms, the floor tiles are all in the same
direction on the walls. Concrete sails ensure the stability of the box;
it is braced by a longitudinally bearing wall 20cm thick. In the other
building and in the workshop, one notices the presence of rolled
beams. This allows the skylights. Thus they support the roof the
spin beam located at the entrance of the kitchen door on the upper
level floor and allows the opening between living room and kitchen.
From the street, the Villa Stein now appears as a cube,
because the rest of the façade is hidden behind the gate lodge and
trees. This concept is Cubism, to express the contemporary
“geometric spirit”. As one approaches the house, the dominant axis
appears to shift, its to wards the center, emphasized by the
penthouse balcony opening, then toward the main entrance under
its canopy. As for the topography, through the years the area
surrounding Villa Stein got more crowded with other residential
houses and villas. Natural character of the area remained because
of the green and trees in the neighborhood area.
Koshino House concentrate on the nature is essential piece of
Architecture, as it permits an incomplete internment of three
volumes to the field. The geology methodology is from above and
gives the guest an aggregate perspective of the arrangement of the
house. As per the width of the field, whence the shape or bend
level, was the answer for stay away from a precarious slant of the
plot. Between the structures there are squares that unite the
structures with nature. In this squares the nature is dependably a
conceptual structure of an immaculate perfect, so the mindfulness
turn out to be more concentrated.
27. 4.4 Conclusion
In summarise, the perceptions of different generation have
different opinions to the building as Le Corbusier later work has
transform into orgnaic architecture. The five points that applied in
this building are compliment with the cubism, which complete the
component. However, Tadao Ando direct the light in all its projects.
In the house Koshino, the light pace and split the space in two
sequences. At the first level reigns the light, in the second
darkness. This distribution corresponds separation of day / night.
Tadao Ando focus not only the form, but he also treat light and
shadow as an important role. They determine the appearance that
can take the concrete. Four types of openings are remarkable:
Serial opening, opening the ground floor bay windows and high
opening skylights
References:
- http://zacharytoddbarr.prosite.com/55393/489747/w-o-r-k/le-
corbusier-villa-stein
- http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/villa_stein.html
- A World History of Architecture By Marian Moffett, Michael W.
Fazio, Lawrence Wodehouse
- https://books.google.com.my/books?id=IFMohetegAcC&pg=PT51
8&lpg=PT518&dq=villa+stein+le+corbusier+plan&source=bl&ots=
adG7gheESc&sig=Q4PMt-
AzvfwlyhyCwzs8jhMjDp8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ukJvVZKfGsu9ugTg5o
GADA&ved=0CFEQ6AEwCw#v=onepage&q=villa%20stein%20le
%20corbusier%20plan&f=false
- http://ccb722.wix.com/colemanblanchard#!villa-stein-de-monzie-
analysis/c1oe7
- https://books.google.com.my/books?id=XWfAacUb3gAC&pg=PA6
4&lpg=PA64&dq=villa+stein+le+corbusier+analysis&source=bl&ot
s=avPI9SL7UD&sig=5aW-
k991zejuBwS9Sg2alUfDkGU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7FBvVbzWINPHu
ATPxoCACQ&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAjgU#v=onepage&q=villa%20stei
n&f=false
- Raumplan Versus Plan Libre: Adolf Loos [and] Le Corbusier By
Max Risselada, Adolf Loos, Le Corbusier, Johan van de Beek
- https://books.google.com.my/books?id=eEG8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA1
5&lpg=PA15&dq=villa+stein+construction+details&source=bl&ots=
3fcgULg76q&sig=PS_fJR5McNap4vvbud1Aa-
5LERQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WFNvVbfmHI_g8AX43oCIDA&sqi=2&re
dir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=villa%20stein%20construction%20detail
s&f=false
- Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier: The Romantic Legacy By
Richard A. Etlin
29. 5.0 Spatial Organization
5.1 Introduction
Spatial organization is the arrangement of space in a building.
Different space has different kind of functions and they are built
according to the user’
The building, Villa Stein de Monzie was built in 1927 at Garches,
France. The building is located at 17 Rue de professeur Victor
Pauchet. The architect of the building is Le Corbusier who designed
spacious homes in middle class neighborhoods on the outskirts of
Paris. He is a famous, as well as well-known throughout the world.
Le Corbusier who is with the five concepts emphasizes on that his
building design is based on piloti, a free façade, an open floor plan,
ribbon windows and roof garden.
Compared to the Villa Stein de Monzie, the Koshino House was
designed by the famous architect, Tadao Ando. It is located at the
foot of Rokko Mountains, in Ashiva City, east of Kobe. The building
undergoes two phases to be completed which are from 1980-1981
and 1983-1984. It was originally made up of two parallel rectangular
concrete boxes.
In building design, Le Corbusier does not search for stylistic
features but for principles of spatial organization, as well as rational
structure while Tadao Ando looks for brutal architecture and he is
inspired by Le Corbusier.
The Koshino House
Villa Stein de Monzie
30. 5.2 Spatial Organizations
For outer spaces, both of the buildings are built and surrounded by
trees. They seem to be connected to the nature. The architects
want the people to experience the interior building spaces, as well
as getting touch with the exterior spaces, which is the nature.
There are four floors in Villa Stein de Monzie, which are the ground
floor, first floor, second floor and third floor. In the ground floor,
there are few spaces provided which are the garage, servant room
and the entrance. From the entrance, the first floor will lead the
people to the stairs (to the first floor). Le Corbusier designs the
house by putting curve wall in the first floor. By using the curve wall,
it helps to lead the people, especially the customers to the stairs
which will then lead them to the second floor. It is amazing to see
that Le Corbusier has used the big empty space to lead the people
from one place to another, instead of using it as a functional place
like living room. The space is totally empty because Le Corbusier
wants to create a comfortable and wide place to welcome the
customers once they reach the entrance. People tend to feel
comfortable in a wide area rather than a narrow area as everything
seems sound and clear there. It tends to provide a public area for
the arriving customers. At the same time, the servant rooms are
placed in the first floor and they are separated from others. This has
created a hierarchy from low to top which can be shown in the
building.
There are two floors in The Koshino House which are the ground
floor and the first floor. In the ground floor, there are atelier, living
room and the bedrooms. The space design is raw and without any
ornamentation. At the same time, the atelier is designed with the
curve-shaped which provides a wide and comfortable space for
drawing. The living room is located in the first floor instead of the
second floor while the volume closer to six identical rooms, is
aligned like Le Corbusier's monastic cells at Sainte-Marie-de-la-
Tourette. The house is structured as a Japanese garden and it is
designed to boost awareness of nature. Besides, the light can
penetrate the space through opening and windows which also
create some kind of 'natural light effect' in the building.
At the ground floor, we can see some similarities and differences
between the two buildings. From the floor plan, there is a row of
bedrooms in the Villa Stein de Monzie and the Koshino House.
Those rooms are arranged in a row in order to make it convenient
for the people to make their ways to it. There is some slightly
different between spaces. There are only bedrooms and garage in
the group floor of Villa Stein de Monzie while there are atelier, living
31. rooms and bedrooms in the Koshino House. This is because Le
Corbusier wants to separate the servant rooms from others and he
purposely make a big space for guide the people to the stairs which
leads to the second floors through the curve walls.
Ground floor plan
Villa Stein de Monzie
The Koshino House
Now we will move to the first floor of the building. In this floor, the
spaces are divided into living room, dining room and the kitchen. Le
Corbusier has designed this house as a public floor as well. It tends
to provide a social place for the customers. The people can have
their chit-chatting and business talk in the living room without
disturbing others. The space is wide and big enough to accumulate
a large number of people in there to have their activities.
Meanwhile, there are kitchen and dining room been separated from
the living room. The kitchen is fully separated from the living room
to avoid oil and gas from entering and disturbing the people while
32. the dining room is separated partially from the living room by a
curve wall to allow movement between the two spaces easily. The
people can have their meal and head to the living room for chatting.
Le Corbusier uses the space to make it convenience to the people
when having their activities. The best thing is the circulation of the
people will not affect others from having meal in the dining room.
From the staircase, people will just walk through a small corridor to
the next staircase (to the second floor). Again, the people are
leaded by a curvy book shelf along the corridor to the next staircase
so that the people will not get confused about where they head to.
Everything is in order, just like the concept of Le Corbusier.
For The Koshino House, there are study room, bedroom and
terrace. The study room and bedroom are separated by a small
corridor. It allows easy movement from study room to bedroom and
vice-versa. The terrace acts as an open space for the people to
have a view from the inside to the outside. Also, the open space
allows more light to penetrate into the building and also air
circulation.
At this point, the living room is placed in the first floor of Villa Stein
while it is placed in the ground floor in the Koshino House. This is
because for Villa Stein, Le Corbusier wants to separate the servant
rooms from the living room and so, the people can have more
privacy when having their activities here compared to the Koshino
House. At the same time, both of the buildings do share some
common which is light penetration. Villa Stein de Monzie has lots of
windows that allow light to penetrate while the Koshino House uses
open space.
First floor plan
Villa Stein de Monzie
33. The Koshino House
Next, we will head to the second floor of the building. The spaces
are divided into bedrooms and washrooms. There are three
bedrooms and two washrooms in this floor. Le Corbusier designs
this floor as a private room as only the customers live in these
spaces. The number of bedrooms indicates that there might be
more than one family to live in the building as the rooms are all big
and wide which again, provides a comfortable and relaxing
environment for the customers. The washrooms are separated from
the bedrooms to provide a more private area for the customers and
they can enjoy themselves without been disturbed by others. The
bedrooms are separated from servant room to allow full privacy for
the customers and this creates a building hierarchy. When the
customers reach the floor, there are only two directions from the
staircase. So, it is easy for the customers to identify their own
rooms without getting confused or getting lost. There is a void
space that connects to the first floor to allow air movement from
floor to floor and the customers will feel cool, as well as relaxing in
this floor. At the same time, Le Corbusier is using his order concept
which separates each spaces distinctively. Although it is in a very
order arrangement, it cannot be defined as Le Corbusier’s “ABABA"
because the arrangement is not constant. For the space between
the void and bedroom, the 'ABABA' concept cannot be used
because they can hardly be separated.
For the Koshino House, the space in Koshino House is clearly
divided but there is no specific space arrangement compared to the
Villa Stein de Monzie.
34. Second floor plan
Finally, we head to the final floor which is the third floor. There are
solarium, guest rooms and staff rooms in this floor. It is an open
space area of the building. Le Corbusier uses one of his concepts,
which is the 'open space' to design this floor because he wants the
people to enjoy and feel the mother nature, instead of just resting
inside the building all day as the building was built surrounded by
the forest. The floor is considered as an exposed private area as
only guest can enter this area. The staff who stays in staff rooms
can serve the customers immediately. That is why Le Corbusier
designs one staff room in between the guest rooms. From the
staircase, the guest can just walk through the door beside the
solarium and enter the wide open space. It can be considered as
the coolest area of the building as the floor is wide and exposed. It
enables the air to flow through the space. Meanwhile, there is void
space in the floor to allow air movement as well. The people here
can enjoy the greenery around the building, as well as resting
themselves in the building.
Third floor plan
For The Koshino House, it has terraces (open space) that allows
light penetration to take place. Tadao Ando emphasizes solidity
which enhance the depth of the thick solid wall which can be found
35. in the ground floor and first floor. The wall appears to be solid but it
permits light to penetrate through the space. It also allows the user
have a glimpse of the surrounding with the presence of light. At the
same time, there are less ornamentation to be seen in the interior
space. It looks plain from the inside because Tadao Ando wants to
give minimal ornamentation to the building.
Creating sense of
progressive approach
Light
Creating focus on subject
Light reacts differently in response with geometry
36. 5.3 Conclusion
The conclusion is spatial organization is very important for a
building as it can affect the activities and functional of the spaces.
Without a good spatial organization, a building will be like an empty
hollow shell .Le Corbusier has designed a house by the concepts of
his which are the 'order' and 'open space’. The building is designed
in a way that allows people to get in touch with the nature, as well
as resting peacefully in the building. The well- designed architecture
of Villa Stein de Monzie has become so famous and well-known
because of its special structure and spatial organization. The
building is designed in order and the spaces are separated
systematically for the users. For the Koshino House, Tadao Ando
has designed in a way that emphasize on light reaction and also
without ornamentation. Both of the buildings have their similarities
and differences, but still, their passions in architecture have made a
huge changes in architecture history. Everything happens for a
reason
References
-Key Houses of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.). Retrieved June 8,
2015, from
https://books.google.com.my/books?id=GdIbk8X4HTEC&pg=RA1-
PR1&lpg=RA1-PR1&dq=villa stein de monzie&source=bl&ots=-
Yny56RC6A&sig=fIPHnjbEiizo6x3_5HkLOJPJEIE&hl=en&sa=X&ei
=uz11VfrsJofW8gXDpYCYAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=villa
stein de monzie&f=false
-AD Classics: Koshino House / Tadao Ando. (2011, September 25).
Retrieved June 8, 2015, from http://www.archdaily.com/161522/ad-
classics-koshino-house-tadao-ando/
38. 6.0 Structure, Materials and
Construction
6.1 Introduction
Tadao Ando was studying architecture by going to see
actual buildings, and reading books about them, he had no formal
education in Architecture. His first interest in architecture was
nourished in Tadao’s 15 by buying a book of Le Corbusier
sketches. In general, Tadao Ando had been following Le
Corbusier;s architecture for years. With that said, we could safely
assume that their architecture styles would have a number of
similarities. However, that is not true if we are looking have a few
things in common, there was more difference compared to the
similarities.
As of what I can see, both of them do emphasize quite a lot
on the light and space. I believe the elements which will affect both
light and space in a building the most is the structure, construction
and the materials itself. Although they do have a few things in
common, there are also many things which are different from one
another.
So, by using Villa Stein de Monzie to represent a building of
Le Corbusier and the Koshino house to represent a building of
Tadao Ando, an analysis is done to show the similarities and
difference between the executing methods of the individual
architects towards their significant buildings.
Villa Stein de Monzie
Source: architectureandmorality.blogspot.com
Koshino House
Source: http://www.3dvalley.com/gallery/rukout/ext09_sample_Koshino_House
39. 6.2 Structure and Construction
Starting with the structure and construction, both of the
building has similar geometrical shape, a rectangular shape from
the outside. However, aside from that, the structure and
construction are very different. Just the fact that Le Corbusier likes
the building the stand out from the greenery and Tadao Ando
prefers his to stay low and blend with the site already shows very
conflicting construction preference,
Le Corbusier is well-known for his 5 points of modern
architecture, and among them is the usage of piloti. He is the first
architect to use columns to support the structure of a building. The
pilotis allow the walls to be a non-load bearing wall, therefore
allowing free plan to this spaces, which is also another point in his
famous 5 points of modern architecture. For this building, the outer
walls are built as such reason being that it tends to help the stability
of the construction together with the concrete floor. Le Corbusier
used three types of different columns within this building. The
square columns, the round columns, and the egg-shaped columns,
their purpose differs with the types. The square ones are used in
the construction where they are placed between the smaller, non-
load bearing inner walls. The round and egg-shaped columns are
used in the spaces or whenever there’s a column inside the room.
The concept of free space creates big open spaces which gives the
house a light and transparent feeling.
Red parts shows the constructive walls.
The pilotis also allowed ribbon windows (another one of his
5 points) to be made as the outer walls does not have to bear the
load of the whole structure which allows more light ventilation to
happen.
40. From this section is is visible that the sides of façade are non-
contructive walls. Hence it does not need to take the load of the
structure, allowing it to have more openings.
With the Koshino house, Tadao Ando used the load bearing
walls to construct the entire structure. With that said, the walls are
not able to move hence not allowing free plan to the building. The
walls bring out a private feeling when being in the space. This gives
the building a sense of solidity and rigidity in comparison to Villa
Stein’s free plan. The solid walls are also used to more clearly
define and emphasize the spaces within the building. Using load
bearing walls, less open spaces on the walls are able to be used.
As not much light is able to enter the building, the lights are aimed
to focus just to certain spots in the building. The light ventilation in
the Koshino House is considerably minimal and it’s only made to
emphasize on certain parts which may contain certain function, or
where light is necessary.
From the section, it is clear that the walls has to support the
structure by itself and it is has not a single columns in the space.
As a whole, Le Corbusier’s 5 points of modern architecture has
allowed him to free himself from load-bearing wall hence creating a
more open space. Tadao Ando, however, decided to go with load-
bearing walls, which gives it a more enclosed feelings.
41. 6.3 Materials
Moving on to the materials of the buildings, both of the
buildings has 3 materials in common, which are glass, steel and
concrete. Glass is used to allow light penetration. The usage of light
is significant in both the buildings therefore glass does take up a
significant part of the building. Steel is used in both buildings
however only a very small part of the Koshino House. Concrete is
used in Villa Stein and almost the entire building of the Koshino
House because it’s a very strong material which holds up the
structure.
For Villa Stein, the key materials used are white plaster,
glass and dark steel bars. Aside from that, there are also tiles and
concrete present. One of the element that gives the villa such
strong character and also contributing to the unity of the villa is the
materials choices and usage. The overall structure, such as the
floor using concrete as it is a stronger material to hold up the house.
Also, every wall in the house uses white plaster, except the toilet.
The toilet uses tiles to fill the walls as it is stronger water resistant,
therefore more durable in the presence of water.
Source : http://divisare.com/projects/199431-Le-Corbusier-Villa-Stein
The key material of Villa Stein is the white plaster in the
facades and balconies. Le Corbusier is known for using plaster and
it can be found in nearly all of his designs and buildings. By using
white plaster, the house will seem unity and as one solid element
even though different elements and parts of the house. White
plaster gives the interior a very light and open feeling. It makes the
interior also flat and very smooth. This follows the function and
needs of the Stein couple who are artists themselves and would like
to showcase and display their art.
Dark Steel
White Plaster
Glass
42. Facade mostly consist of white plaster
Source : http://pixshark.com/villa-stein.htm
Red represents white plaster (interior)
The next material widely present in the villa is glass. The
glass contributes to the transparency of the house through the
windows. There are 3 different dimensions of windows in the
building which is made and adjusted to the function, privacy and
importance of the spaces. The more private parts of the house have
windows sized only small thin line. There’s repeating rectangular
windows on the first and second floor which are a lot bigger and
more transparent, as these rooms needs more lights due of their
functions. The last group are the huge windows in the sides where
these windows are huge glass elements, which brings in to the villa
even more lights and also to bring the nature and surroundings to
the inside of the villa.
The glass varies in sizes according to the function of space. The
one shaded in red represents glass.
43. Furthermore, Le Corbusier used quite a bit of dark steel bars
in this building. Dark steel bars in the window give these parts an
enclosed and private feeling. This way light can enter these rooms
without losing their difference in function, importance and privacy.
Besides the bars in the windows, the dark steel can be found in the
guard-rails at the doors on every floor of the building. The balconies
give the house a more open character from the inside but it does
not work as a balcony at all. The hand-rails and other steel
elements are all made out of the dark steel which brings the house
together with the glass and white plaster.
Steel bars as handles of stairs
Source: www.ncmodernist.org
The red represents the steel present in the building.
44. For the Koshino house, the materials used are glass, wood,
a small portion of steel and mainly concrete.
Close up of Koshino House
source: http://imgkid.com/tadao-ando-koshino-house-plan.shtml
Glass is used to give a good view of the garden from the inside, and
also to allow the natural light from outside to be shinning in to the
spaces. Wooden floors are used in the Koshino house. As this
space reveals a courtyard that drapes over and contours to the
natural topography, wooden floors allows the building to feel closer
and in fact, more connected to the nature outside. The living room
is lit by two large rectangular windows with supporting steel frames
of different sizes. This is actually to mix around the western and the
Japanese styles of architecture. The other windows in the buildings
are also supported by steel frames.
Last but not least, concrete. Tadao Ando used Concrete to
build the walls to set limits and boundary of the space. All the walls
are made of concrete are completely free of ornamentation and are
in their natural form. The pre-cast concrete’s surfaces are very well
made and are “smooth-as-silk”. Ando’s concrete is both structure
and surface, so it never has to be camouflaged or plastered over.
Narrow apertures have been punched through the facades, they are
shaped adjacent to the exterior staircase and it manipulates
complex crossings of natural light and shadow into the interior
spaces. The patterns provided by the natural lights the only amount
of ornament to the simple rooms. Other slots are also cut from
various walls of the two structures to produce the same effect of
complexity throughout the entire house. Another reason why it is
used is due to industrialization and technological resources, which
allow the concrete blocks to be easily assessable.
Concrete
Glass
Steel
Wood
45. Concrete Structure of Koshino House
Source: http://www.archdaily.com/161522/ad-classics-koshino-house-tadao-ando/
Overall, the key materials for the building, which is white
plaster for Villa Stein and concrete for the Koshino House are both
very different materials and they bring out different kinds of
aesthetics and feelings of privacy when a person is in the building.
Even with similar materials, the quantity used varies, which gives
the building a very different feeling.
6.4 Conclusion
From the analysis, Le Cobusier’s Villa Stein emphasizes more onto
the wide and spacious feeling from the inside of the building. This is
attained by using 3 out of 5 of his points of modern architecture,
which is piloties, free plan and ribbon windows. With careful
selection of the sizes of the glass and the selection of white plaster
as the key material, the building has a very light and open feeling to
it.
However for Tadao Ando’s Koshino House, it emphasized more
onto the rigid and enclosed feeling from the inside. That was able to
be achieved solely with just the thick, solid concrete load-bearing
walls. The choice of using concrete did give a very private feeling
as well and the glass opening are much less compared to Villa
Stein.
At the end, their choices of construction methods and structure, as
well as their choice of materials are able to pull out their intended
feelings very well.
References:
-http://www.insideoutside.in/inside-outside/issue-
magazine/1437/concrete-intentions-tadao-
ando#sthash.ep71oWni.dpuf
-http://www.timmaier.com/files/architectuuranalyse.pdf
-http://www.archdaily.com/161522/ad-classics-koshino-house-
tadao-ando/
- http://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Koshino_House
47. 7.0 Site Context and Circulation
7.1 Introduction
“I traced the drawings of his early period so many times, that
all pages turned black,” says Tadao Ando: “in my mind I quite often
wonder how Le Corbusier would have thought about this project or
that.“ Le Corbusier is the master of modernism in architecture.
Tadao Ando's work is characteristically simple, and we can find
similar forms in the first half of 20th century.
"I am interested in a dialogue with the architecture of the
past", Tadao Ando says, "but it must be filtered through my own
vision and my own experience. I am indebted to Le Corbusier and
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, but the same way, I take what they did
and interpret it in my own fashion." As what Tadao said, his design
will somehow will show some similarities which he got influenced by
Le Corbusier’s work. The project that we will look into is the
analysis on the site context and also the circulation of Villa Stein de
Monzie which designed by Le Corbusier, and Tadao Ando’s work
for Koshino House.
Villa Stein De Monzie
Source: www.ncmodernist.org
Villa Stein de Monzie is built in 1927, designed by Le
Corbusier, a Swiss-born French architect, who was recognized
worldwide for his modern architecture. This villa was designed for a
couple, Michael Stein and his wife, Sara, and their friend, Gabrielle
Monzie, a faithful supporter of Le Corbusier, and her adopted
daughter. And the villas was named after them. Michael and Sara
Stein were well known connoisseurs and collectors of modern
painting and sculptures. They decide to live together due to the
common interest towards art collection.
48. Koshino House
source: www.cgarchitect.com
While Koshino house was built in 1976, designed by Tadao
Ando, a famous Japanese architect is basically two rectangular
concrete boxes are joined together and making a courtyard in
between. The house is built for the designer Koshin, is a veritable
maze of lights and shadows. It is an example of contemporary
architecture built in two parallel wings that barely interrupt the
landscape, as Ando built his design according to the location of
trees on the site.
49. 7.3 Site Context
There is similarities between the Villa Stein De Monzie and
Koshino House. Both houses built in the sense of embracing the
nature and blend to the surrounding site.
Villa Stein surrounded by the dark trees
source: www.flickr.com
Villa Stein is located in the suburbs of Paris in France, which
is Garches. The family Stein always lived in the centre of Paris.
When they got older they wanted to move out of the city centre for a
more tranquil and relaxing environment but wanted still be able to
get to the centre of Paris without having to travel a lot to go
shopping, for work or for their art collection. The house is set far
back on its site, and approached via a long, straight driveway that
ends at the door of an ample garage, the house`s pristine white
walls and crisp ribbon windows give it the appearance of a modern-
day Palladian villa set in a landscape of dark trees.
Top View of Koshino House
source: trendland.com
50. While for Koshino House, the house is located in Ashiya, a
small town between Osaka and Kobe two major urban centers in
Japan, at the foot of the Rokko mountains.The site composed of
irregularly shaped slopes.
The Koshino House is embedded in the ground, as it
immerses with the Landscape. When viewing from top, you can
see how the three volumes are placed to each other within the
forest site. Ando calls the act of designing a site “site-craft”; he
blends together the site and the building, incorporates the
landscape into the building, and makes use of every bit of the site.
Diagram shows Koshino House is embedded in the ground
source: www.archdaily.com
7.4 Circulation
7.4.1 Human Circulation
Villa Stein-de Monzie consists of three floors. Before
entering the villa, you can see that there are two entrances on its
front façade. The front entrance for guests and private use is
emphasized by a big element above the door. There is a separate
entrance for servants on the left next to the garage for private use,
emphasized by the small fake balcony above.
A lone lawn leading to entrance
source: www.nytimes.com
51. In my opinion, I think why there are two entrances provided
to the villa is because the maids were expected to work invisibly
and sweep and dust when the family was asleep, or work in a room
when the family was not scheduled to use it. In fact, many of the
lower servants never encountered the family during their years of
service.
So in generally, Le Corbusier imply a contrast difference on
the pathway circulation between the owner and guest with the
servant use.
The concept behind is come from the hierarchy in the social
status during that period of time in Paris. The clients don’t want to
have a clash of spaces use with the servants. Besides, Le
Corbusier also put effort on the connection of the flow. Implication
of curved wall also used as a guide for the circulation.
Diagrams show the routing pathway for different floors
(Ground floor, First floor, Second Floor, and the third floor)
52. However, koshino house doesn’t have a clear division on
the circulation pathways. Tadao Ando made the entry of this house,
semi batch, is level.
Entrance of Koshino house
source: www.archdaily.com
From here go down in the living room with double height. In
one wing parallel to the building, connected through a corridor of
almost underground, a number of halls and rooms for children,
since that can be accessed by a long hallway. The spaces of the
house are intricate. For the interior, the viewer encounters many
scenes while in motion.
The movement throughout the structure shows the complete
evolution of the scene. It has a clear and direct movement. The
three volumes are connected to each other by a corridor that is
situated under the ground and not visible from the outside.
Wide set of exterior stairs
source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49942362@N03/
The approach is from above and gives the visitor a total
view of the plan of the house. There is a wide set of stairs follows
the sloping land into the enclosed exterior space. Tadao Ando used
a very intimate enclosed pathway throughout the whole house. It is
different from the Villa Stein which the circulation is accessed by a
vertical long staircase.
53. The diagram shows the circulation pathway on plan
7.4.2 Light Circulation
Le Corbusier is well- known as the master of light. There
was one famous quote from Le Corbusier:
“Our eyes are made to see forms in light; light and shade
reveal these forms”
Tadao Ando's work is also known for the creative use of
natural light. While once this has said by him:
"Light is the origin of all being. Striking the surface of things,
light grants them an outline; gathering shadows behind things, it
gives them depth. Things are articulated around borders of light and
darkness, and obtain their individual form, discovering
interrelationships, and become infinitely linked.”
Both of them like to imply the natural use of light inside the
building. Both of them strongly focus on the concept of light into
their work.
Front view of Vila Stein
source: www.flickr.com
For Villa Stein, Le Corbusier applied one of the five points of
architecture principles which introduced by himself, the ribbon
window. He applied ornamentation-free facade and horizontal
windows in strips for maximum natural light. From the front facade,
you can see the long row of windows frames with the same size
and width.
54. At the ground floor, you will find the windows with the iron
frame and the small long glass elements which give a closed and
intimate character at the ground floor.
Especially at the back of the Villa appears the house to be
very transparent with the big double size windows. You also find the
big transparent terraces at the back side of the house which gives
the house an open character. For the left and right side of the
house are very big windows present. Furthermore, the dark steel
bars in the window are quite transparent too and hence helps
penetration of light enter to the rooms.
Back View of Villa Stein
source: www.retrotogo.com
The diagrams show the position of the windows on the elevations
Because of the size of the Villa, the house needs a lot
of windows to bring light into the spaces and rooms. This follows
the function and needs of the Stein couple. This is perfect for the
couple to hold up exhibitions of art and having guests over to
discuss and show the art.
Front Elevation Back Elevation
Left Elevation Right Elevation
Ribbon windows
55. For the use of light on Koshino house, Tadao Ando is more
emphasizing on solidity. The penetration of the light enhancing the
depth of the thick solid wall. Appears to be solid but permits light to
penetrate through the space and allows user to get a glimpse of the
surrounding.
This is also why Tadao Ando giving minimal ornamentation
to the interior space using the element of nature. In a result, the
light that penetrates through the slit creates a sense of progressive
approach.
Light creates approach in Koshino House
( source: http://www.archdaily.com/)
Light enters through a sky-light between the wall and the
roof, illuminating a curved wall. And large window has been opened
in the living room wall.
The light reacts differently in response with geometry, it
creates a focus on the subject such as the furniture. He allows
residents to experience nature without the distractions of the city. I
think Ando’s intention in creating this design was to return to a
traditional Japanese life-style of “contact with light, air, rain, and
other natural elements” within the confines of a small physical
space.
Light penetrates and creates focus on furniture
( source: http://www.archdaily.com/)
56. 7.3.3 Air Circulation
For the air circulation, both Le Corbusier and Tadao Ando
are very concern about the air ventilation inside their buildings. In
Villa Stein, Le Corbusier designed a lot of windows and also provide
an open terrace on the top floor. This is to ensure there is a good
ventilation throughout the whole building.
While for Koshino House, Tadao Ando did apply large
windows opened in the living room wall. Besides, there are also
many openings on the wall for air ventilation. Furthermore, there are
slits designed on the ceiling wall too as a function for sunlight
penetration yet air ventilation throughout the space.
Some openings of Koshino House
(source: imgkid.com)
7.4 Conclusion
Through the analysis, I feel that Le Corbusier is more focus
on the circulation of the client on how to guide the users to the villa
from the road, then the long lawn pathway which leads the users to
enter the building from outside. Besides, he also designed two
distinct pathways to separate the servants from his clients.
The guidance of the circulation is led by the designed
curved walls to the staircase, and the staircase connected the users
from one floor to the other floor. The design of Le Corbusier can be
considered as a solid guidance which users may look to the side
when front view is being blocked or shifted.
However, Tadao Ando is more focus on the concept of light.
He uses the natural light in different aspects inside the building. He
even uses light to create a guide for the users. The opening slits
that he designed on the ceiling wall allowed the sunlight to
penetrate through. The effect of the light and the shadow from the
concrete wall create a progressive approach along the pathway.
In conclusion, both architects concern on the intimate
visualisation from the concept of light and also how to place a
building in a natural site without interrupting the beauty of the
nature. They also create a sense of bringing the nature into the
building itself.
58. 8.0 Conclusion
A lot of Tadao Ando works have the characteristic similar to
Le Corbusier’s as Tadao Ando admired and learn a lot from Le
Corbusier. But despite this fact, there were also some characteristic
of their works which separated them from each other. The both
façade of the buildings, different perceptions have different opinions
to the building. The perceptions of different generation have
different opinions to the building as Le Corbusier later work has
transform into orgnaic architecture. The spatial organization is very
important for a building as it can affect the activities and functional
of the spaces, and both the architects designed it differently. Their
choices of construction methods and structure, as well as their
choice of materials are able to pull out their intended feelings very
well into their respective buildings. Lastly, both architects concerns
on the intimate visualisation from the concept of light and also how
to place a building in a natural site without interrupting the beauty of
the nature. They also create a sense of bringing the nature into the
building itself.
In the end, to sum it all up, both of the buildings, Villa Stein
de Monzie and the Koshino house has their similarities and
differences. However, their passions in architecture have made a
huge change in architecture history.
