From the “soft media” to the concept: legacy of Le Corbusier and his collaborators based on Jerzy Sołtan’s designs and teaching

Abstract

The relevance of “soft media” – such as charcoal, soft crayons, and clay – is essential in order to reach the very essence of architecture, at least according to Le Corbusier. Along with artistic and visual research, using such techniques contributed to the poetics, meaning, and definition of his work. This article analyses the work and teaching of Polish modernist architect Jerzy Sołtan through the prism of Le Corbusier’s heritage and legacy and it examines how the use of specific tools and techniques could influence development of a design concept. Based on archival data and oral histories interviews, it explains the connection between Le Corbusier, his collaborators, and their own students, looking for the continuity of design approach in the first stages.

Keywords

• schizzo
• insegnamento di architettura
• architettura moderna
• le corbusier
• jerzy soltan