In addition to the variety of Italian cities covered by the field trips of the Cornell in Rome program, students have the opportunity to plan and organize their own weekend excursions and fall break travels.
Mauricio Vieto ’13 & Kyle Schumann ’13 on the grounds of la Tourette
This past weekend, two other architecture students and I embarked on a three day architectural pilgrimage to France in pursuit of the three religious institutions designed by modernist icon Le Corbusier: the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp (1950-1954), the Dominican Convent of Sainte-Marie de la Tourette in Eveux (1957-1960), and the Church of Saint-Pierre and accompanying structures in Firminy (1960-2007).
Kyle Schumann ’13 in front of the Maison de la Culture in Firminy
Our first site was Firminy, a small town of only 20,000 people. In the center of town, a cluster of Le Corbusier projects form a tight knit green space: Maison de la Culture (1965), Stadium Firminy-Vert (1966), and the Church of Saint-Pierre which was built posthumously under the guidance of José Oubrerie (1960-2007). The Firminy L’Unité d’Habitation (1954) is also located nearby.
Mauricio Vieto ’13 at the Stadium Firminy-Vert in Firminy
Kyle Schumann ’13 in front of the Church of Saint-Pierre in Firminy
For our night’s lodgings, we moved onward to another Corbusian icon—the Dominican Convent of Sainte-Marie de la Tourette in Eveux, France, which was designed by Le Corbusier and Iannis Xenakis (1957-1960). The convent, now run by twelve monks, has one hundred cells, many of which it rents out to visitors for a modest price. The cells are ideal accommodations, including a twin bed, writing desk, sink, closet, and private balcony.
Southern facade of la Tourette
Entry of la Tourette
Kyle Schumann ’13 in the Oratory of la Tourette
Mauricio Vieto ’13 in the courtyard of la Tourette
The fee includes access to the communal spaces of the Convent (including the Oratory and the Chapel) as well as a breakfast prepared by the monks. Visitors are free to attend daily services and explore the Convent’s extensive grounds. The surrounding area is hilly and thriving, with trails, scenic outlooks, and a reflecting pool. Lunch and dinner are also available at an additional cost, a convenient feature granted that Eveux is a small town where most businesses close early. Fortunately, the lively city of Lyon is nearby, offering an array of museums and cultural institutions.
The grounds of la Tourette
Kyle Schumann ’13 on the grounds of la Tourette
Lyon, France
For the final Corbusian monument, we traveled north to Ronchamp where we visited the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut (1950-1954), the earliest of the three works.
Kyle Schumann in the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut
In addition to Le Corbusier’s well-known Chapel, we were intrigued to discover the recently inaugurated Monastery Saint-Claire designed by Renzo Piano. The monastery, which will house a group of Franciscan nuns, is built into the hill in front of the Le Corbusier Chapel. While the building is still undergoing construction, the visitor’s center was open and had an exhibition of drawings, models, and project boards about the monastery. More surprisingly, we stumbled upon Renzo Piano in the lobby, who was giving a open talk about the project to a group of architecture students.
Renzo Piano gives a talk at the Monastery Saint-Claire in Ronchamp