Whereas the architecture of Le Corbusier (1887-1965) is again on the neo-Modernist agenda as the so-called ‘unfinished project’, he is also blamed for the alienation of the street as a public realm, and the dispersed nature of most contemporary cities. Critics ignore the fact that he relentlessly opposed the anti-urban paradigm, and that his urban objectives are entirely compatible with contemporary concerns. The paper investigates four unfinished projects. First is Pavillon de l’Esprit Nouveau of 1925, which remained a prototype at an international exhibition. The other three are the Housing Quarter in Barcelona (1933), and the La Sainte-Baume and Roq-et-Rob projects on the Côte d’Azur (1948, 1949). It explores the ways these projects achieve (1) walkability, (2) densification, and (3) private gardens. Analyses rely primarily on comparisons of computer-generated drawings. Finally, this paper concludes that reconsidering Le Corbusier oeuvre can enhance the current knowledge base and contribute towards more sustainable neighborhoods. Copyright © 2010 IAHS.
