Paris - Maison La Roche / Fondation Le Corbusier

Maison La Roche (1923-24) as it is known, is in fact a "double house" more correctly called the La Roche-Jeanneret house. This pair of semi-detached houses was only Corbusier's third Parisian commission and today houses the Foundation Le Corbusier where one can obtain information on the great modern master. The houses are laid out at right angles to each other and face onto a fore-court which, like a traditional atrium, helps maximize the amount of building frontage to light. The spatial and formal composition employs strong cubist elements juxtaposed with the project's main feature: a curved two story gallery space complete with ramp access to the second floor.