Exhibition + Symposium: “Le Corbusier’s Models of Worldmaking”, Dr. Hamed Khosravi and Prof. Igea Troiani | Thursday, March 30, 2023, 17:30-20:30 (BST) | London South Bank University (LSBU)

The exhibition of models is open to the public from 21th of March to 6th April 2023 and is the foyer of the Keyworth Centre, LSBU. 

The Symposium will take place in: Lecture Theatre A, Keyworth Centre, London South Bank University (LSBU), Keyworth Street, London SE1 6NG

To register please go here.

Since the early 20th century Le Corbusier’s projects have been unavoidable points of reference in architectural knowledge and practice. Their roles, however, have changed historically from avant-garde and polemic statements of icons of the modernist movement, to stigmatised and politically charged constructions, and, in recent years, to contested grounds for reflections on ethical, socially-aware, and ecologically-just practices. His projects, whether built or unbuilt, operate in the tension between architecture imagined and architecture conceived. This space in-between is precisely the quality that turns them into the driving force for progression and reconsideration of the field of architecture. Their discursive, imaginative, and projective qualities have produced socio-spatial imaginaries and expressible fantasies. 

The symposium celebrates an exhibition of 150+ models of Le Corbusier’s built and unbuilt projects proposed for 13 countries. It brings together researchers, architects, and scholars to revisit Le Corbusier’s Models of Worldmaking examined through various architectural, pedagogical, and theoretical perspectives. The speakers outline a systematic form of enquiry reflecting on key experimental and methodological applications of Le Corbusier’s work, ones that could be catalysts of change or critical reflection on our radically changing profession.

Convened by Dr. Hamed Khosravi and Prof. Igea Troiani

Guest Speakers: Brigitte Bouvier (Director, Fondation Le Corbusier), Prof. Alan Powers (London School of Architecture), Prof. Tim Benton (Open University), Rene Tan (Director, RT+Q), Layton Reid (Visiting Prof. at University of West London)

Architecture Research Forum: “White Light and Black Shadow – The Poetics of Light in Le Corbusier’s Sacred Architecture” Benson Lau, Thursday 7th December, Erskine Room, 5th Floor, 13:00-14:00

Benson Lau: White Light and Black Shadow – The Poetics of Light in Le Corbusier’s Sacred Architecture

This presentation will disseminate the research outcome of a RIBA Research Trust funded project that explored the interplay of space and light in Le Corbusier’s sacred buildings from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. Measurable and unmeasurable aspects of these divine luminous environments were investigated through extensive field work, theoretical physical and digital modelling. The findings offer new insights into the unique lighting strategies adopted by Le Corbusier for the creation of sacred luminosity in his religious buildings. A similar research methodology has now been employed for the investigation of light in Louis Kahn’s museums, and preliminary results of this research will also be presented.

Benson Lau is a Reader and Course Leader of the BSc (Hons) Architecture and Environmental Design at the University of Westminster. He has practised as architect and environmental design consultant since 1996, and joined academia in 2005.

The Architecture Research Forum is a seminar series hosted by the Architecture + Cities Research Group where staff present work-in-progress for discussion.

Where: Erskine Room (M/523), Marylebone Campus

When: 7 December 2017, 13.00–14.00

ALL WELCOME