The

Athens
Charter by
Le Corbusier
Ar. Mary Therese Gaile A. Solano
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret
Le Corbusier was a Swiss architect and city planner who
was born on October 6, 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds,
Switzerland and passed away on August 27, 1965 in Cap
Martin, France. He was a highly influential figure in the
international architecture community, known for his
designs that combined functionalism with bold sculptural
expressionism. Le Corbusier was a member of the first
generation of the International School of Architecture and
was a skilled writer, using his talents to promote the ideas
of the movement. In his architecture, he sought to merge
the functionalist ideals of his peers with an emphasis on
expressionism.
 The Athens Charter
The Athens Charter is an important urban planning and architectural manifesto
written by the renowned Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier. It was published in
1943 as a result of the Fourth Congress of the International Congresses of Modern
Architecture (CIAM IV) held in Athens in 1933. The charter was a response to the
urgent need for modern urban planning principles in light of rapid urbanization and
the challenges presented by industrialization.
Key principles
1. Functionalism
2. Zoning and Separation of Functions
3. Radiant City Concept
4. Human Scale
5. Polykatoikia (Multi-story Apartment Buildings)
6. Transportation and Infrastructure
7. Critique of Historical Styles
8. International Collaboration
• Functionalism - The Charter emphasized the importance of designing urban
spaces and buildings based on their intended purpose.
• Zoning and Separation of Functions - The Athens Charter advocated for the
separation of urban functions.
• Radiant City Concept - The Charter introduced the concept of the "Radiant
City," which envisioned a decentralized urban structure with a focus on green
spaces and efficient transportation networks.
• Human Scale - The Athens Charter acknowledged that urban planning
should consider the social and psychological well-being of residents.
• Polykatoikia (Multi-story Apartment Buildings) - The Charter supported the
idea of multi-story apartment buildings, known as polykatoikia, as a solution to
accommodate increasing urban populations while efficiently using limited
space.
• Transportation and Infrastructure - The Charter recognized the importance
of efficient transportation systems and infrastructure in urban planning.
• Critique of Historical Styles - The Athens Charter encouraged architects and
planners to embrace new materials and construction techniques.
• International Collaboration - CIAM and the Athens Charter promoted
international collaboration among architects and urban planners.
• The Athens Charter states that residential areas
should occupy the best place in the city in terms
of topography, climate, sunlight, etc.;

• This residential area stands out for its

verticality: towering apartment buildings with
studied lighting and ventilation will create the
functional city’s skyline.

• At the pedestrian level, to ensure access to

recreation and healthy green spaces, the
measured distances between buildings should be
wide enough to grant dwellers with these vast,
green esplanades.

• Factories are closer to residential areas, just

enough to reduce travel distances, but not
enough for it to break health standards,
separated by green areas. However, they should
remain close to railroads for supply, differing
from workshops, that as a part of social
urbanity, they deserve a VIP spot in the city
tissue. The business district will confirm its
area, inconstant and efficient communication
with the industrial, residential, and commercial
spaces
Successful Cities that adopted the Athens
charter Principles
• Brasília, Brazil: The capital of Brazil was planned and designed by architects Lúcio
Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, embodying the modernist ideals of functionalism and
zoning.
• Chandigarh, India: Re-designed by architect Le Corbusier, Chandigarh reflects the
Athens Charter's emphasis on functionalism and human-scale design. Also recognized
as the Greenest City of India.
 Criticisms: Athens Charter
• First, the Athens Charter has been criticized for being too rigid and standardized.

• Second, critics argue that the Athens Charter placed too much emphasis on functional and physical aspects of urban
planning while neglecting the social and cultural dimensions.

• Third, the Athens Charter did not adequately address the issue of informal settlements or slums.

• Fourth, the Charter's principles were criticized for their limited flexibility in adapting to changing circumstances and
evolving urban contexts.

• Fifth, the Athens Charter, particularly in its promotion of the Radiant City concept, was criticized for its overemphasis on
automobile-centric planning.

• Sixth, some critics argue that the Athens Charter did not sufficiently address environmental considerations.

• Seventh, the implementation of the Charter's principles in some cases led to urban renewal projects that resulted in the
displacement of existing communities, particularly low-income residents.

• Eighth, the Radiant City concept, with its utopian vision of a decentralized, green urban landscape, was criticized for being
impractical and difficult to achieve in reality.
From around 1960, many reformers began to voice their criticisms of the Athens Charter and Le
Corbusier's vision due to their evident weaknesses. The CIAM breakaway group known as
Team 10 embraced a more 'structuralist' understanding of architecture as a setting for
human life and culture. They compared the Athens Charter to the ideals established during the
New Urbanism and the New Urban Agenda, exposing it as the first proposition that prepared the
field for others to learn from its mistakes and make a fairer play the next time. They emphasized
six essential points that stand out between ideologies, namely:
• Mix of uses
• Walkable multi-modal streets
• Buildings defining public space
• A mix of building ages and heritage patterns
• Co-production of the city by the citizens
• The city as a self-organizing evolutionary structure
Modern Urbanism gained a more humane perspective and thought of the city due to the
development of urban life, not the latter.
Summary
The "Athens Charter," which was primarily created by Le Corbusier, is a significant
document in the field of urban planning. It is a manifesto that advocated for a radical
restructuring of cities worldwide, emphasizing efficiency, rationality, and hygiene in
urban design.

The Charter is noteworthy for being a comprehensive outline of modern architecture and
urban planning principles. It promotes functional zoning, green spaces, mass transit, and
standardized construction.

Despite its impact, the Charter has faced criticism for neglecting historical and cultural
contexts, which has resulted in sterile urban environments in some implementations.
Nonetheless, it remains a foundational text that significantly shaped urban planning
discourse and practices in the 20th century.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Athens Charter, despite its ambitions and limitations, has had a
lasting impact on urban planning. Its vision originated from a need for certainty
in an uncertain world, seeking to provide structure and functionality to societies
navigating uncharted territories. However, today we are faced with the remnants
of its overemphasis on functionality.
Nevertheless, we can find value in revisiting the Charter's principles by
acknowledging the dynamism and unpredictability of urban evolution. Concepts
like orientation, ventilation, open spaces, security, and order remain relevant and
serve as guiding beacons in navigating the complex, culturally diverse, and
technologically advanced urban landscapes of today.
Thank you.