A Study on the Transformation in Design Process of Ronchamp Chapel

롱샹 성당의 설계 변형 과정 연구

This Study aims at searching the meanings in the creative process of Ronchamp chapel by analyzing the drawings of the site, plan, section and elevation in chronological order. The origins of his architectural creation are identifying with the site(memories of Acropolis), analogies of crab shell, air plane wing and hydraulic dams. The architect informed himself about the site ,the tradition of pilgrimage associated with the place, and its devotion to the Holy Virgin; he looked into the rituals of the Catholic religion, spoke with ecclesiastics; he studied and annotated a monograph devoted to the site of Ronchamp. Also ,the plan required that it be possible to collect rainwater, since such was rare on the hill. In the first design phase, overall conception of building was carried out in the sketches and drawings from June 1950 to November 1950. The second phase in the elaboration of the project was from January 1951(at which time preliminary project was presented to the Commission of Holy Art) to April 1953. The modifications made were in response to opinions expressed by the patrons. The building moved to east and gargoyle moved to west, then, the elevations of north and west were changed. He designed the artificial land and bell tower from the first phase even after the beginning of construction ,he wanted them to be built .But they were not constructed, so the outer space for rituals of religion had no tension. I concluded that Le Corbusier had gifted ability and efforts to create spontaneous birth(after incubation) of the whole work, and the execution of drawings itself. He devoted himself to accomplish the project in spite of the change in situation or by clients.