1.1.2021

I first read Le Corbusier’s “Vers Une Architecture” in 2004. For me, the treatise captured the spiritual relationship I felt with space in a way I had never heard articulated before (or since for that matter). It was 2011 when I decided to make the considerable jump from studying English Country Houses to early Modernism and subsequently writing a dissertation on Le Corbusier’s “Dom-ino House” for my MA. I was fortunate enough to be able to finance a brief research trip at that time from Northern England to Paris and Poissy, visiting the Villa La Roche (where the archives are housed) and the Villa Savoye. The later…spatial ecstasy, light and order, perfection. Now, an incomprehensible decade later and after a year of non-travel filled with solitude amidst the pandemic, I’ve decided to revisit my studies with a pilgrimage of sorts in 2022. As a birthday present to myself, an exercise in crafting a digital presence that isn’t done for “work”, and a means of procuring|organizing resources, I’ve decided to document the entire process from planning to traveling said excursion into the life and works of Le Corbusier. His given name was Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris and since my middle name is Jeanne, I’ve decided to call it the Jeanneret project - it seems appropriate for such a love affair, no? It is my sincere hope that if you have any interest in architecture, social housing, or travel that you’ll follow along on this journey.

Here’s the plan so far:

RDU to Paris: another trip to the archives and Villa Savoye of course but also an additional excursion to the Immeuble Molitor|Studio Apartment, the exterior of Atelier Ozenfant (anyone know how I can get inside?), and to the UNESCO building (designed by Bernard Zehrfuss, Marcel Breuer, and Pier Luigi Nervi with a planning committee that included Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier) where rumor has it, there are some rarely seen LC paintings. Note: I struck out on my first trip there.

Paris to Ronchamp: Notre Dame du Haut awaits

Ronchamp to La Chaux-de-Fonds: the birthplace of LC and where his first commissions and family homes are

La Chaux-de-Fonds to Corseaux: Villa Le Lac

Corseaux to Lyon: Sainte Marie de La Tourette…giving new meaning to the word “pilgrimage” this is actually a monastery and I hope to spend the night there.

Lyon to Saint Paul de Vence: a bit of a sidestep and nothing to do with Le Corbusier, I just really want to stay at this boutique hotel (where Miro and so many others have lived, eaten, created, and loved).

Saint Paul de Vence to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin: where LC finished his life…I’d like to visit his tiny cabanon and the Eileen Gray house.

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin to Marseille: Unité d'habitation - a lesson in social housing

Marseille to Pessac: Cité Frugès - like the former but with detached homes. Again, I’m going to need help getting entrance into any of these so if you happen to know someone who knows someone…

I’ll be updating the instagram for the project frequently, writing a blog, and teaching a course through OLLI at Duke University on Le Corbusier in preparation. If you’d like to receive updates via email, have travel tips or architectural insight, want to sponsor me, know how I may gain entrance to private buildings, or wish to physically tag along, get in touch via thejeanneretproject{at}gmail.com. I’m intentionally allowing this pilgrimage to develop and evolve along the way - nothing is set so in stone that serendipity cannot occur.

With endless excitement,

Alva