Curutchet House
Le Corbusier's Argentine house blending modernism with traditional courtyard design.
The Curutchet House is a building in La Plata, Argentina, designed by Le Corbusier and commissioned in 1948 by Dr. Pedro Domingo Curutchet, a surgeon. It includes a small medical office on the ground floor and is one of Le Corbusier's few buildings attached to pre-existing structures, demonstrating a dialogue between modern and traditional architecture.
- architect
- Le Corbusier
- location
- La Plata, Argentina
- commissioned
- 1948
- construction
- 1949–1953
- supervising_architect
- Amancio Williams
- current_use
- Houses the Buenos Aires professional association of architects (Colegio de Arquitectos); open for tours
- world_heritage_status
- Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2016
Quick Facts
- Native Name
- Casa Curutchet
- Location
- La Plata, Argentina
- Address
- Avenida 53 Nº320, 1900
- Owner
- Dr. Pedro Domingo Curutchet
- Completion Date
- 1949 - 53
- Architect
- Le Corbusier
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Curutchet House was commissioned in 1948 by Dr. Pedro Domingo Curutchet, a surgeon, and included a small medical office on the ground floor. Construction began in 1949 under the supervision of Amancio Williams and was completed in 1953. The building faces the Paseo del Bosque park and consists of four main levels with a courtyard between the house and the clinic. Its main facade incorporates a brise soleil.
Reader's Guide
The Curutchet House exemplifies Le Corbusier's five points of architecture and incorporates a ramp and a spiral staircase. It is significant as a landmark in Le Corbusier's trajectory because it shows how cultural and historical characteristics of architecture—specifically elements of the traditional Argentine courtyard house—can be rewritten using his five points of modern architecture. The house is one of the very few buildings Le Corbusier built attached to pre-existing buildings and perfectly responds to a historical context, proving that modern architecture could be in harmonious dialogue with traditional architecture. The house was restored from 1986 to 1988 during the centennial of Le Corbusier's birth and was declared a national landmark by Argentina's Commission on National Landmarks. In July 2016, the house and sixteen other works by Le Corbusier were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It currently houses the Buenos Aires professional association of architects and is open to the public for tours. The house has also appeared in films: the 2009 film 'El hombre de al lado' and the 2018 film 'La Obra Secreta', which was fully filmed in the house.
Did You Know?
- The house includes a tree inside, retained during design to preserve its beauty.
- The terrace, folding wooden curtains, inclined stair design, wardrobes, and kitchen were designed between 1949 and 1953 and remain as modern designs.
- The 2018 film 'La Obra Secreta' was fully filmed in the house and contains detailed views of its interiors.
- The house is one of Le Corbusier's very few buildings attached to pre-existing structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Curutchet House?
Curutchet House is a residential building in La Plata, Argentina, designed by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier and commissioned in 1948 by Dr. Pedro Domingo Curutchet, a local surgeon. It was constructed between 1949 and 1953, with Amancio Williams supervising the build on-site.
What are Curutchet House's powers/role?
The house pairs a small ground-floor medical office with private living quarters and stands out as one of the rare Le Corbusier projects that integrates with pre-existing structures rather than standing alone. Its modernist volumes wrapped around a traditional courtyard layout demonstrate a deliberate dialogue between old and new architectural languages.
How does Curutchet House's story end?
The building no longer functions as a private home; it now houses the Buenos Aires professional association of architects (Colegio de Arquitectos). It remains open to the public for guided tours, so fans of modernist architecture can still walk through its spaces.
Why is Curutchet House important?
It is a key example of Le Corbusier's late-career work and one of his few projects that attaches to an existing structure, making it a rare study in modern-traditional architectural synthesis. Its inclusion in the World Heritage listing highlights how modernism adapted to local Argentine building traditions.
Where can fans visit Curutchet House?
The house sits in La Plata, Argentina, and welcomes visitors for guided tours. It forms part of the broader 'Work of Le Corbusier' World Heritage Site, so it can be paired with other stops in the architect's global portfolio.
More in World Heritage Sites in Argentina 1-19
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