Notre-Dame du Haut Chapel
Le Corbusier · Ronchamp, France · 1955
Notre Dame du Haut, commonly known as Ronchamp Chapel, is a Roman Catholic chapel in Ronchamp, France, completed in 1955. Designed by Le Corbusier, it is considered a seminal work of modern architecture and a departure from the strict functionalism often associated with the International Style. Its organic, sculptural forms and expressive use of concrete challenged conventional architectural norms. The chapel features thick, curving walls, a distinctive upturned roof suggesting an airplane wing, and strategically placed irregular apertures that filter light, creating a mystical interior atmosphere. These elements, combined with its integration into the landscape, make Ronchamp a significant example of Le Corbusier's "plastic period" and a powerful demonstration of architecture's spiritual potential.