Maria Antonietta Crippa - Böcker

Le Corbusiers Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, eastern France, is one of the most unique and surprising religious buildings of the twentieth century. Replacing an earlier church that had been destroyed in the Second World War, a church that itself had been built on the site of a fourth-century Christian chapel, Le Corbusier transformed an ancient pilgrimage site into a dramatic work of modern art. In this insightful and beautifully illustrated volume, Maria Antonietta Crippa and Francoise Causse explore the particular set of circumstances that led one of the last centurys most famous exponents of urbanism to create an ethereal space of worship on a remote hill in the French countryside. As well as putting the chapel into its historical context and exploring the controversies and arguments that have surrounded it, the book, part of a series which began with Matisse: The Chapel at Vence (RA Publications, 2013), features stunning new photographs that capture the genius of Le Corbusiers design.

From the towering Sagrada Família to the shimmering, textured façade of Casa Batlló and the enchanting landscape of Park Güell, it’s easy to see why Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) gained the epithet “God’s architect.” With fluid forms and mathematical precision, his work extols the wonder of natural creation: columns soar like tree trunks, window frames curve like flowering branches, and ceramic tiling shimmers like scaly, reptilian skin.With this outstanding attention to natural detail, his inspirations from both neo-Gothic and Orientalist aesthetics, and a lifelong commitment to Catalan identity, Gaudí created a unique brand of the Modernista movement which transformed, and defines, Barcelona’s cityscape.With seven of Gaudí’s projects listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this book introduces the architect’s extraordinary vision and unique legacy, exploring the influences and the details which allow his buildings to impress, inspire, and amaze, one century after their construction.