KuHG 3 – „Unité d’Habitation – Photography as scientific argument“

Le Corbusier was ahead of his time in many ways, but above all he knew how to use photography in documenting his buildings and ideas. In the middle of the 20th century, he dealt with the problem of the housing shortage, which became ever more topical. Between 1947 and 1967, five “Unité d’habitation” were realised in France and Germany and most of them were captured in the media by Lucien Hervé, a pioneer of architectural photography with whom Le Corbusier worked continuously from 1949. Each of the buildings is received differently by the public, and this is also evident in the respective photographic representations. The analysis of these photographs not only provides interesting insights into Le Corbusier’s work, but also into the ideas and characteristics of various “living machines” then and now.
The aim of this course is to re-examine the heritage of the “Unite d’Habitation” photographs, to identify patterns and motifs, and to deepen our knowledge of architectural photography in relation to a specific building typology: the “housing machine” for 1500 inhabitants.
The seminar work includes lectures, photographic experiments and their written elaboration.

First date: Monday, 10 October 2022, 16:30-18:00, Seminar room SO3 (1385|203), Auditorium building C.A.R.L., Claßenstraße
Weekly seminar dates: Mondays, 16:30-18:00, Room: SO3 (1385|203)

lecturer: Leonie Bunte

Image: Lucien Hervé, Unité d’habitation in Nantes-Rezé, 1954