NOTRE DAME

DU HOUT
LE - CORBUSIER
CONTENTS
HISTORY
LOCATON
DESIGN CONCEPT
SPACE PLANNING
ELEVATION AND ORNAMENTAL FEATURES
CONSTRUCTION , MATERIALS & STRUCTURE
 FOLLOWING SPECIFIC STYLE
 HISTORY
 The Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut is located in Ronchamp, on
the hilltop of Bourlemont. In the middle age, this place was a
catholic pilgrimage center dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The
Chapel suffered a voracious fire in 1913, consequently was
rebuilt in Neo-Gothic style.
HISTORY
 In 1950, Le Corbusier accepted rebuilt of the chapel at there quest of
archbishop of Besancon. The master is touched by the significance of the
site, because was a place of bloody battles. After five years of technical
difficulties and the constant critic,is finished in June 1955.
LOCATION
 • Location: Ronchamp, France
 • Building Type: church
 • Construction System: reinforced concrete
 • Climate: temperate
 • Style: Expressionist Modern
 • Physical Characteristics:
 Simplicity
 Oblong nave
 Two side entrances
 Axial main alter
 Three chapels
SITE
 Three towers
 4 ft to 12 ft thick, whitewashed, sprayed concrete walls (knownBeton brut roof
 Exterior alter
 Sculpture of the Virgin Mary
DESIGN CONCEPT
 That Le Corbusier based his design
off, of praying hands, a ship, a bird
a nuns cowl. Shown in fig-1
 Le Corbusier superimposed Ronchamp II
over Ronchamp I. shown in fig-2

Fig-1
Sketch concept by le corbusier Fig-2
SPACE PLANNING

1- MAIN ENTRANCE
2- CHOIR
3- ALTAR
4- SOUTH SIDE CHAPEL
5- CONFESSIONALS
6- EAST SIDE CHAPEL
7- WEST SIDE CHAPEL

8- SACARISTY
9- ALTAR
10- EXTERIOR ALTAR & PULPIT

Plan Of The Chapel

SPACE PLANING
 The internal space of Notre Dame du Haut comprises a large central nave, the
main chapel, two smaller side chapels (called morning chapel, and evening
chapel), a sacristy, a confessional, a pulpit, and a choir opened to the outside.
The building also includes a 23-meter-high (76-foot-high) tower (which contains
the main chapel), and two smaller periscope-like towers designed to bring
daylight into the two small chapels.

Interior view of the chapel toward

Transverse section of the Ronchamp Chapel
the main altar
ELEVATION AND ORNAMENTAL FEATURES
 The South wall of Ronchamp is a creature of its own. Rather than designing
a straight, 50 cm thick concrete piece, Le Corbusier spent months trying to
perfect the outside wall. What he came up with is a wall that starts out as a
point on the east end, and expands to up to 10 feet thick its west side. As it
moves from east to west, it curves towards the south. To further expand his
design's complexity, Le Corbusier decided to make the windows of the wall
extraordinary. The openings slant towards their centers at varying degrees,
thus letting in light at different angles. The different-sized windows are
scattered in an irregular pattern across the wall.
ELEVATIONS & ORNAMENTAL FEATURES

NORTH SIDE FACADE SOUTH SIDE FACADE

ELEVATIONS & ORNAMENTAL FEATURES
DOOR DECORATIONS -The door itself has apainting by Le Corbusier. Door
panels consist of open hand, star, pyramid, meandering river, rain, and clouds.
Each door consists of eight panels. Pivoting door on center. Red and blue
symbolize opposites . Other elements in the access are two small concrete
blocks that form a virtual frame.
ELEVATIONS & ORNAMENTAL FEATURES

The most striking features of the façade are the two chapels flanking the
secondary access: both are symmetrically arranged around the axis of the
door. However, their curved shape invite to access to the interior.
 ELEVATIONS & ORNAMENTAL FEATURES
 THESE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE ORNAMENTAL FEATURESOF NOTRE DAME
DU HOUT

THE LIGHT FROM HEAVENS

SHINING OVER THE CHAPELS
ELEVATIONS & ORNAMENTAL FEATURES
CONSTRUCTION , MATERIALS & STRUCTURE
 The structure is made mostly of concrete and is comparatively small,
enclosed by thick
 walls, with the upturned roof supported on columns embedded within the
walls.
 ROOF FRAMING
 A. 6 cm concrete shell.
 B. 10 x 30 cm cast in place lower
 beams.
 C. 17 cm thick girders.
 D. 5 x 27 cm pre cast upper roof
 beams.
 E. Roof deck 4 cm thick.
 F. Scupper for rainwater drainage.
CONSTRUCTION , MATERIALS & STRUCTURE
 G. 15 cm concrete pylons and 40 x 15cm beams.
 H. Reinforced concrete columninside wall.
 I. Girder bearing on column.
 J. Masonry walls.
 K. The only exposed column.
CONSTRUCTION , MATERIALS & STRUCTURE
 A. Aluminum roof covering.
 B. 4 – 5 cm cement gunite covering.
 C. Metal framework of parallel
 trusses.
 D. Rotating joint
 E. Trussed pylon
CONSTRUCTION , MATERIALS & STRUCTURE
 A. Precast concrete
 window frame.
 B. Lead glazing
 compound.
 C. Glass.
 D. Plaster on wire mesh
 covering precast
 concrete and stone.
 E. Rubble wall.
CONSTRUCTION PICTURES
 FOLLOWING SPECIFIC STYLE
 Simplicity- The chapel appears completely organic both in form and in
materials. Notre Dame Du Haut lacks any obvious attempts at
accentuating geometry. The materials are left in the rawand allowed to
age naturally. The simplicity of form gives the chapel the feel of sculpture.
 Lack of ornate detail allows the building to completely exist as a religious
space without any distractions to pilgrims and worshippers. Lacking mass-
produced materials the structure is pure and simple exemplifying the
desired way of life for those who came to the chapel.
 Beton Brut Roof - It is said that the smooth curve of the roof is symbolic of
praying hands.
 South Facing Wall of Windows-Light has been a long time symbol of
religion. Gothic Architecture took this concept to the extreme considering
light one of the most important elements of any religious structure. Light
gives the space an ethereal quality.
 THANK YOU

By –Amitosh
Girija
Mishra