Modulor and Le Corbusier's Cabin

In his new book published by YEM Yayın, Prof. Dr. Genco Berkin discusses the “Modulor” system, which Le Corbusier, also known as the “Father of Modern Architecture,” gifted to world architecture, and “Le Cabanon,” the cabin he designed for himself using this method.

Genco Berkin states that he wrote this easy-to-read, understandable, portable mini-book for every architect and interior designer to carry with them as a design principle, just like a compass, pencil, or ruler they never part with:

“At the heart of today's popular trends in living space selection, such as 'Tiny House' and 'Small House,' lies the desire to shed our excesses and find ourselves in nature. Le Corbusier realized and experienced this almost 100 years ago in the design of the cabin he built for himself, called Le Cabanon. Le Cabanon is, in fact, the embodiment of Modulor, the scaling system he developed. The emergence, development, and introduction of Modulor to architecture can be likened to the experiences of a traveler who never deviates from their destination on a long and arduous journey.

Although Le Corbusier is considered the 'Father of Modern Architecture,' the roots of the structural system he established extend back to the Hellenistic period and the Renaissance. Le Corbusier, who greatly admired the standardization of the Hellenistic period, created the scaling sequence in 'Modulor,' which he invented, through the Fibonacci sequence. Thanks to this system, which emerged from the measurements of the human body and grew by addition, the 'human-furniture-space' trio could be expressed numerically for the first time. Christopher Alexander, who laid the foundations of parametric design, a breakthrough in architecture today, followed the path opened by Modulor. In its simplest terms, Modulor is a guide for designers to create artificial environments (preventing the loss of concern for proportion).

If Le Corbusier had never lived, our homes, workplaces, and schools today would be built at more than twice the cost; the majority of the public would be deprived of quality housing, and some students might not even receive an education. Moreover, since there would be no standard understanding of design and production in any of these structures, sustainable production of construction materials would not be possible, and there would be difficulties in accessing these products.

This book traces how Le Corbusier achieved his great dreams that blossomed in his small world and his aspirations to make the world a more livable place. Readers who are architects or interior designers will see that the solution in design lies in creating norms and standards; they will ponder more deeply the necessity of considering furniture and space as a whole.”

CONTENTS

Introduction

Le Corbusier and Architecture

Journey to the East

Alexander Klein and Le Corbusier Interaction

The Birth and Establishment of Modulor

The Birth of the Cabin (Le Cabanon)

Eileen Gray and Le Corbusier Interaction

The Dimensions of Le Cabanon

The Furniture of Le Cabanon

The Reflections of Le Cabanon on Contemporary Architecture

Conclusion

Sedef Sav designed the cover and illustrations for Modulor and Le Corbusier's Cabin.