In 1952 Le Corbusier was commissioned "to dwell in the silence of men of prayer and study and to construct a church for them". The result was his impressive Convent of La Tourette, marking a significant step in modern religious architecture. Beginning with the rectangular form common to the Cirstercian monastic tradition, he created a building whose stark form contrasts beautifully with the organic elements of the interior court and the grasslands surrounding it.
The church itself is a model of simplicity, the cement has been left rough and the well located sources of light evoke a feeling of silence and reflection. The order's precept of prayer, study and reflection is aptly mirrored in the architecture. This guide provides a wealth of plans, details, photographs and information on this building which today is also a conference centre.
In cooperation with Fondation Le Corbusier, Paris.
