This book considers the architect Le Corbusier's encounters with
Australia and New Zealand as a two-way exchange, showing the impact of
his ideas and projects on architects of the region whilst also revealing
counterinfluences on Le Corbusier in his post-war career that were
activated by his contacts.
Compiled from detailed archival research undertaken at the Fondation Le
Corbusier, Paris, and nationally based archives, Le Corbusier in the
Antipodes brings together a set of episodes placing them in context
with the history of modern art, architecture and urbanism in 20th
century Australia and New Zealand. Key exchanges between Le Corbusier
and others never before described are presented and analyzed, including
Le Corbusier's contact with Australian architect Harry Seidler at
Chandigarh, Le Corbusier's drawing of the plan of Adelaide in 1950 and
his creative collaboration with Jorn Utzon on art for the Sydney Opera
House. This book also includes analysis of previously unseen Le
Corbusier artworks, which formed part of the Utzon family collection. In
reading these personal and contingent moments of encounter, the book
puts forward new ways of understanding the dissemination and mediation
of Le Corbusier's ideas and their effects in post-war Australia and New
Zealand.
These antipodean contacts are set against the broader story of Le
Corbusier's career, questioning received interpretations of his design
methods and current assumptions about the influence of his work in
national contexts beyond Europe.
