An architectural promenade

A visit to the villa Savoye is like taking an architectural stroll. Follow us !

Le Corbusier sets the scene for the villa, linking the exterior and interior, and creating views of the entire architecture of the house and landscape.

As soon as you enter the park, he creates an itinerary with the peristyle that winds around the villa to reach the entrance hall. Here, the eye is drawn to the double circulation to the upper floor : a spiral staircase and a banister that occupies a central position, allowing the continuity of the space to be visualized.

Villa Savoye, garage entrance
FLC (Fondation Le Corbusier) - ADAGP © 11H45 / Centre des monuments nationaux

Reaching the upper floors without worrying about where you step - that's the promise of this inclined plane, but it's not all! A ramp frees the mind to discover, admire and enjoy the views of the volumes, the play of light and nature.

Le Corbusier was inspired here by his travels to the Orient, and his discovery of Saint Sophia in Istanbul, with its two ramps leading to the summit. At the villa, he created a ramp that began as an interior feature and then became an exterior one. The ramp is composed of two parallel flights that guide the eye to the viewpoints the architect wanted to emphasize.

Villa Savoye, first floor landing, staircase
FLC (Fondation Le Corbusier) - ADAGP © 11H45 / Centre des monuments nationaux

The ramp at the villa Savoye is Le Corbusier's second design. The first, built in the 1920s, is located in the Maison La Roche à Paris.

The term "architectural promenade" didn't appear until 1929, in the 1st volume of its book Œuvre complète.

The sensation of climbing a ramp is totally different from that of climbing a staircase made of steps. A staircase separates one floor from another: a ramp connects them