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Le Corbusier, born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret in Switzerland, was a visionary French architect, designer, and writer who profoundly influenced modern architecture and urban planning. His innovative ideas blended functionalism with bold sculptural expressionism, embodying the essence of the International Style of architecture. Notably, Le Corbusier's designs, such as the Villa Savoye and the master plan for Chandigarh, India, are celebrated for their revolutionary approaches to living spaces and urban environments.
Le Corbusier's early life in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, where he was immersed in the art and craft of watchmaking, significantly shaped his design principles. His architectural journey began without formal training, starting with his education in decorative arts and leading to significant collaborations across Europe. Le Corbusier's philosophy was deeply rooted in the belief that architecture should improve living conditions, particularly in crowded cities. This belief drove his contributions to the Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne and his development of influential architectural principles, such as the Five Points of Architecture, which are exemplified in Villa Savoye.
Villa Savoye, located in Poissy, France, stands as a testament to Le Corbusier's innovative approach, featuring pilotis (reinforced concrete stilts), a functional roof garden, an open floor plan, horizontal windows, and a free façade design. These elements collectively embody his vision of a "machine for living," integrating the house with its environment and the modern lifestyle. Despite facing issues with structural durability and weather resistance, Villa Savoye remains a pivotal work in architectural history, symbolizing the transition to modern architectural thought.
Le Corbusier's legacy is multifaceted, extending beyond architecture to furniture design and painting, showcasing his broad artistic talents. His work continues to inspire and provoke discussion, reflecting both his groundbreaking contributions to modern architecture and the complexities of his ideologies and methodologies.
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Desiderius Erasmus, also Erasmus of Rotterdam, or simply Erasmus (Latin: Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, Dutch: Gerrit Gerritszoon) was a Dutch humanist, philosopher, and the greatest scholar of the Northern Renaissance.
He was illegitimate and brought up under the name Gerhard Gerhards, later in Latin his name was dubbed Desiderius Erasmus. At the age of 13, the boy was sent to a monastery, where he later took the ministry. Erasmus read a lot, improving in Latin and Ancient Greek, studied oratory. A few years later he received the post of secretary to the bishop of the French city of Cambre. From 1493 to 1499 Rotterdam lived in Paris, then in London he was introduced to Thomas More, John Fisher, and John Colet.
Erasmus was constantly on the move, rarely staying in one place and traveling frequently between the Netherlands, Britain, France and Italy. In Turin he earned a doctorate in theology and was received by the Pope, then taught ancient Greek and theology at Cambridge. He corresponded with the rulers of various countries, popes and cardinals, and with statesmen, answering their questions of a scientific, political, and philosophical nature. As a true humanist, Erasmus of Rotterdam adhered to the ideas of a scientific spirit that favored research and true knowledge.
Among the merits of Rotterdamsky study of religious texts from a scientific position, critical interpretation of theology. Erasmus was able to lay the groundwork for historical-critical study of the past, especially in his studies of the Greek New Testament and the church fathers. His educational writings helped to replace the old school curriculum with a new humanistic emphasis on the classics.
In 1501, Erasmus produced a religious and ethical treatise, The Arms of the Christian Warrior, published in 1504. His work entitled "The Praise of Folly" was reprinted 40 times only during the author's lifetime, the book has been translated into all popular languages of the world. The series "Conversations in a Simple Way" (1518-1533) is among the most popular books on pedagogy. Erasmus promoted respect and care for children, opposing violence and corporal influence. He also promoted the idea that education should be compulsory for everyone.
Ugo Rondinone is a Swiss-born artist widely recognized for his mastery of several different media — most prominently sculpture, drawing and painting, but also photography, architecture, video and sound installation — in the largely figurative works he has made for exhibitions in galleries, museums and outdoor public spaces around the world. He has never limited himself to a particular material, no more than he has to a single discipline. Lead, wood, wax, bronze, stained glass, ink, paint, soil and stone are all tools in a creative arsenal that the artist has employed to extend the Romantic tradition in works that are as sensitive to the passage of time as to the nuances of body language and the spoken word.
