Le Corbusier is renowned for his architectural achievements, which have been the subject of extensive scholarly analysis. This lecture, however, focuses on a less explored dimension of his work: his contributions to urban planning. It is commonly assumed that the public spaces in Le Corbusier’s urban plans represent a radical departure from historical precedents, bearing no connection to the traditions of pre-modernist public spaces. This perception stems partly from the ground-breaking nature of his proposals and partly from the modernist rhetoric prevalent in his manifestos, exemplified by phrases such as l’esprit nouveau (“new spirit”) and l’architecture de demain (“architecture of tomorrow”), which seem to reject the past outright. Yet, if we set aside these preconceived notions—rooted in a somewhat simplistic interpretation of modernity—we uncover a different narrative. Far from severing ties with the historical continuum, Le Corbusier’s public spaces reveal a deep engagement with the enduring traditions of human creation. Rather than representing a rupture, his work testifies to the persistence of cultural and spatial continuity across time. This lecture seeks to demonstrate this perspective through a detailed analysis of two public spaces designed by Le Corbusier in the immediate post-World War II period, revealing how his designs, while innovative, also echo and reinterpret the Greco-Latin heritage in a modern context.

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Le Corbusier,Public Space,urban planning,post-World War II,Greco-Latin heritage