Hoshino Futoshi | Jean-Philippe Delhomme (Illustrations), Jean-Marc Savoye (Text) 'The Bright Time of the Villa Savoye'
This book offers a fresh look at the Villa Savoye through warm illustrations and humorous text by the owner's grandson and an illustrator.Summary
The book, 'The Bright Time of the Villa Savoye,' is a new documentation about the world-famous Villa Savoye, designed by Le Corbusier, co-authored by Jean-Marc Savoye (the grandson of the original clients) and illustrator Jean-Philippe Delhomme. Unlike typical architectural books relying on objective photos and the architect's philosophy, this work uses Delhomme's warm illustrations and Savoye's humorous, intimate text to vividly portray unknown aspects of the villa. A key revelation is the detailed design request letter from Eugénie Savoye to Le Corbusier, showing her precise and exacting demands regarding room sizes and even the placement of electrical outlets, suggesting the famous 'work' was heavily shaped by client specifications. The book also addresses that this 'bright time' was not eternal, detailing subsequent issues like heating and waterproofing troubles, the villa's seizure by German forces during WWII, and its near demolition. The authors conclude that building this 'bright time' was the grandparents' 'utopian specification,' and the resulting drama of glory and decline surrounding this 'house' is what makes the book compelling.
(Source：artscape)