Ronchamp

Over the weekend, a group of five of us decided to rent a car and take a little road trip out to see one of Corubusier's most famous buildings, Notre Dame du Haut. It is a little chapel situated on top of a hill in Ronchamp, France and is one of Corbusier's later works. I had studied this building in school and didn't want to leave Europe without finding it. It was one of those buildings, however, that I was truly not fond of when I saw pictures and read of it. I didn't understand it, its form its design, it all just didn't make sense to me out of a book. But in person, this building was by far one of my favorite buildings I have seen on this trip.

As soon as we drove up the steep hill in what seemed like the middle of nowhere and parked the car, the view from the parking lot was gorgeous. You could look down on the rest of the city below with trees as far as the eye could see. It was such a peaceful location, it reminded me a lot of Michigan. As you walk by foot up the rest of the hill, the building came into view. It seemed like this building only existed for that day. It was perfect sitting within the trees, leaves changing colors and grass green. The building is not like Corubusier's other building, it has a much more natural form. It is made of white concrete with the texture of a thick stucco. The shape of the roof if very unusual, with it swooping towards the air, it almost appeared as a horn.

From the exterior, you can see little cut out windows situated with no order what so ever. It breaks up the white facade and gives it something unusual. The form of the building is very strange from the exterior, it is very object like and seems to have no order, but once you enter the building, it makes so much sense.

As soon I entered the chapel, everything changed. It was probably about fifteen degrees cooler inside the building than out, you get a chill as soon as you enter and can see your breath again the dark interior. The only light being drawn into the building were from the little cutouts you could see from the outside. Each window is placed in the wall at a certain angle, some set into the wall almost five feet. The light that it produced was serene, it sent light off into different angles produces a very different interpretation of the room than if there were lights hanging from the ceiling.

The other light source in the building came from tall lightwells situated in three small chapels located around the building. The lightwells created a spotlight on the chapel to pray, but as you stood inside, it created the brightest area in the building. It was as if when you pray, everything became brighter perhaps a little happier. It was an intense feeling to stand in this lightwell, almost as if you are in a place of your own, separated from the rest of the building, but connected at the same time.

What I thought was most impressive was Corubusier's choice of seating. He designed the benches and placed them on only one side of the building facing the nave. Not only were the seats only on one side, but they were angle away from the entrance, almost away from the nave. I can imagine when there is a service, with all of the seats filled, you feel disconnected from the rest of the building, all grouped in one area. It must feel as though you are truly part of a community, separate from the rest, but safe with those surrounding you.

The building overall was truly inspirational. I am by no means a religious person, but it truly seemed as though Corbusier thought about the church, its power, its inhabitants, and the feelings one has towards God and exaggerated it to an extent I have never seen before. It was almost mystical to be situated on top of this hill with gorgeous views all around and then enter this building that encompassed you and brought you closer to what you believe in. This building means so much more to me know to have witnessed it. There is so much more to it than a picture could every express, and I'm sure this writing truly isn't doing it justice. It is definitely one building on this trip that has changed my expression and way of thinking of space. I think its genious, and one day I hope to be able to design something so inspirational.

I miss you all so much at home! I'll be home exactly one month from today- and I can't wait! Love you and miss you.