Chapel of Note-Dame-Du-Haut 1954

This is the Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Haut, designed by Le Corbusier. It’s built mainly with concrete, a material more associated with industrial infrastructure than sacred spaces. The chapel’s bold, sculptural forms are a direct result of concrete's inherent qualities. Its weight allows for dramatic cantilevers, while its plasticity enables the curving walls and roof. The rough texture, left exposed, speaks to the material's origins in aggregate and cement. The construction process of pouring concrete into molds has imbued the chapel with a sense of mass and permanence. Le Corbusier engaged with the skilled tradition of concrete construction, pushing its boundaries to create a space that evokes both the monumental and the spiritual. This fusion of industrial material with religious architecture challenges traditional distinctions between the functional and the artistic. It encourages us to consider the labor, politics, and social context embedded within even the most seemingly austere of forms.