The system demanded pilotis (slender columns) to raise the building off the ground and allow air to circulate beneath; roof terraces, to bring nature into an urban setting; a free plan that allowed interior space to be distributed at will; a free façade whose smooth plane could be used for formal experimentation; and …

Modern architecture
International Style
Villa Savoye/Architectural styles

Villa Savoye (French pronunciation: ​[savwa]) is a modernist villa and gatelodge in Poissy, on the outskirts of Paris, France. It was designed by the Swiss architects Le Corbusier and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, and built between 1928 and 1931 using reinforced concrete.

Villa Savoye Construction Villa Savoye was the vision of Corbusier’s 5 points to a new architecture and included his idea and concept of open plan and free space. This meant that Corbusier needed to use materials with structural integrity.

Completed in 1931, Villa Savoye is one of the most important houses of the 20th century. A key building in the development of the International Style of Modernism, it is one of the only houses in France to have been declared a national monument during the architect’s lifetime.

The Villa Savoye is a revolutionary building because it was designed to be functional and to revolve around people’s daily lives. With its systematic efficiency, lack of ornamentation, and clean lines, the Villa Savoye exemplifies Purism and Le Corbusier’s desire to simplify design.

No ornamentation As is Corbusier’s style, Villa Savoye is devoid of any classic ornamentation. Both interior and external surfaces don’t use any ornamentation, giving it a severe look in the photographs; yet it’s a complex and visually stimulating structure that looks different from practically every angle.

Le Corbusier foresaw material innovation with the introduction of industrial materials. Previously, houses were perceived as solid and heavy structures where stone, timber and bricks were commonly used. Conversely, Le Corbusier drew influence from the machine age, inspired by his fascination with steamships.

France’s Villa Savoye sits just outside Paris, elevated above a lush meadow and a nearby forest. The striking home is considered emblematic of International Style, and just a quick look at its streamlined figure and large glass windows, both key elements of the style, proves that to be true.