Le Corbusier and Alexander Vesnin

Abstract

Le Corbusier's world-wide success was unprecedented in twentieth century architecture. His ideas permeated many countries and inspired numerous professionals in the field. This paper considers one aspect of Le Corbusier's conquest of the architectural world: his personal contacts with leading architects around the globe, exemplified by his friendship with Alexander Vesnin, the Russian architect and artist. The origins of the friendship between Le Corbusier and A. Vesnin are analysed through a comparison of their biographies. Their two main points of contact are examined in detail: personal meetings between the two masters, and their correspondence, which casts light on both the history and nature of Le Corbusier's relationships with his correspondents. The paper ends with a discussion of Le Corbusier's impact on Vesnin's ideas and projects. The personal meetings and correspondence between Le Corbusier and A. Vesnin amply demonstrate Le Corbusier's talent for searching out professional contacts throughout the world, approaching them, and establishing personal relationships with them. These relationships enhanced Le Corbusier's influence, encouraged the development of ideas and projects similar to his own in many nations and, in Vesnin's case, contributed to the spread of 'the Le Corbusier myth' in Russia.