Le Corbusier. Linkeroever - Chandigarh

Linkeroever

In 1933, Le Corbusier participated in an international competition to design a new, modern city for the Linkeroever (‘Left Bank’) in Antwerp. He wanted to build an ideal city, a ‘Ville Radieuse’, or ‘Radiant City’, which was his response to the inhumanity of the 19th century city, with its narrow streets, dark houses and lack of hygiene. He dreamt of an orderly city with lots of green spaces, in which pedestrians could move freely. However, the competition ended with no winners, therefore Le Corbusier’s plans were never implemented.

It wasn’t until a second competition was held, in 1961, that Linkeroever took its current shape based on the plans for ‘Europark’: a neighbourhood with modernist high-rise buildings in green surroundings with plenty of fresh air, light and space.

Chandigarh

Twenty years after creating his plans for Linkeroever, Le Corbusier drew a new city for India: Chandigarh. This city was designed for 150,000 residents, but has now grown into a bustling major city with 1,200,000 residents. In 2016, an area of Chandigarh received recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Discover the history of the construction of this city and delve into the daily life of the residents through the documentary by Christian Barani. Wander through the city and see Le Corbusier’s plans come to life.

The exposition is based on a concept by Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris and reworked by the MAS for Antwerp. Exhibition realised in collaboration with the Le Corbusier Foundation.

Practical information

Le Corbusier. Linkeroever-Chandigarh
6/04/2019 - 18/08/2019

About the exhibition

Original plan is given a second life

Le Corbusier's original plan for Linkeroever from 1933 is one of the eye-catchers of the exhibition. It gives you a clear idea of how Le Corbusier viewed the future of Linkeroever. The large work consists of nine parts and has been restored for this exhibition.

Documentary

An entire city in one museum space

Thanks to the documentary by Christian Barani, during the exhibition, you will feel as if you are strolling through the streets of Chandigarh. Eight large screens show you how the current residents live in the carefully planned city, long after the architect is gone.

Architect Le Corbusier

Short biography

As well as an architect, Le Corbusier was also a furniture designer, a painter, a sculptor and an influential theorist. He is sometimes called ‘the architect of the 20th century’. His ideas were showered with praise, but he also received a lot of criticism.

Collaboration

We call it Riverside but you can call it L.O.

For the exhibition 'Le Corbusier. Linkeroever - Chandigarh’, the MAS closely collaborates with people and organisations in Linkeroever. Amongst others, we spoke with two residents’ associations in Europark, had coffee with the board of the Sint-Anna College and the secondary school, and visited River Side Studio.