Children of Rue de Sèvres: latin american collaborators of Le Corbusier in Paris (1932-1965)

Author(s)

Ingrid Quintana Guerrero

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FAU/SBI)
• Defense date: 2016-05-20

Examining board members

Paulo Julio Valentino Bruna; Marta Sequeira Carneiro; Margareth Aparecida Campos da Silva Pereira; Guilherme Teixeira Wisnik; Ruth Verde Zein

• Advisor: Paulo Julio Valentino Bruna

Abstract

Recent historiography of architecture lives a renewed interest in Corbusian thinking and works, mainly due to the 50th anniversary of his death. Between other experiences, we highlight exhibits in prominent cultural centers, as well as debates, thesis and dissertations from American and Spanish universities. Several of their graduates come from Latin America and focus on the influence of Modern Masters in their own countries or on the circulation of modern ideas between local architects. This dissertation contributes to the creation of a counter-narrative for Modern Latin American architecture, inquiring Euro-centered histo- riography, turned to Le Corbusier\'s production in that region. Predominantly based on primary sources as plans, letters and sketches, we propose the reconstruction of the history of this French-Swiss architect\'s Parisian studio -at 35, Rue de Sèvres- across its Latin American interns, working in three different periods, especially since 1947, and concerning different hierarchies of employees. The massive arrival of drafts- men and trainees to the most relevant architectural bureau globally, evidenced its universal character and generated connections between them, in a hard moment of cultural and political configuration of Latin American Territory. They also fed with parallel experiences inside the intellectual flow that involved the Postwar France and supported the progressive and critical estrangement from Le Corbusier. As a result of that process, those collaborators would conceived remarkable and consistent architecture when they went back to their countries. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/07240-7 - Rue de Sèvres sons: The legacy of an attitude projecting architecture
• Grantee: Ingrid Quintana Guerrero
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate