Le Corbusier Redrawn: The Houses [Paperback]

`Le Corbusier Redrawn' is a wonderful surprise. The simple act of bringing all of Le Corbusier's houses together in a clear, concise, yet rich way gives all of us who want to research a single moment of the architect's work or the context of this scale of work in Corb's career can do so effortlessly. Mr. Park has rendered the book so that it focuses on the work, on the architecture, without impediment - his own hand is invisible.

Mr. Park has done Le Corbusier, the architectural community and anyone who is interested a great service. This book should be in everyone's collection, and the pages should be well worn with time and study.

The drawings are well done, and very clear giving insight into the volumetric relationships of the design than previously published drawings and photos.

I ordered this book without the opportunity to study the graphics (sections, plans and section-perspectives) which are the only reason one would buy this book, crisp drawings and 3D views.

I felt let down as the book is 90% there with its graphics.

1-Section-perspectives: shadows are cast from the cut edges of all planes, slabs, walls, etc. and the light source appears to be from two different directions in some of the views. Perhaps that is because the cut edges cast shadows as if the cut is a real physical cut, rather than an abstract section cut through a building that is intact and we view through an imagined section cut.

Beaux-arts architectural section perspectives are cut but shadows are cast by the whole building, not just what's left. The parts that are on "this side" of the section plane still cast shadows, a reminder of the totality of the space. The lack of this was very disappointing to see, given the amount of energy gone into researching and building the models in some software. Come to think of it, this may be the problem of the software. It may not be able to handle shadows from the whole building as it really cuts the building model physically.

2- Plans, too, leave quite a bit to be desired graphically. Hard to tell the difference between a glass wall and two lines of a wall seen on a lower level. Glass should be with three lines and the actual glass shown heavy. This is drawing 101, and again, a big let down. But maybe again, the software used was not able to do that.

My wish was to scan and print some of these drawings larger, as posters for my own office.

Maybe the author should revisit the drawings and provide 3D digital files at a nominal fee, after which purchasers can modify and print them as unrestricted derivative works.

Anyhow, when one sees a wonderful concept not carried through to its promise, one feels subdued. On the cover, for example, it would have been far more beautiful to see the lower ramp in true shade, as it never gets sun.

If the author's files are in a format that can be opened in available 3D software, they would be more valuable than the book. The GA's books on Richard Meier have spoiled readers like me who truly enjoy the art of the graphic presentation as it relates to "white" buildings.