Notre Dame du Haut The Notre Dame du Haut is a Roman Catholic chapel built in 1955 to replace the church before it, which was bombed in WW2. It was designed by Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, more commonly known as Le Corbusier. The function of this chapel is to provide sanctuary to those on pilgrimages and was commissioned by the non-profit Association de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame du Haut. The Chapel is situated in Ronchamp, France, which was a comparatively insignificant town. Commissioning Le Corbusier, an incredibly famous architect to re-build it after the WW2 would imply that it was built as a statement or a symbol, especially since it can be seen from afar as you approach the swiss boarder, due to the fact that its on top of a hill. It has also positively impacted the surrounding community as an estimated 65,000 tourists visit it each year, which would have been extremely beneficial to rebuilding the local economy after the war. The name of the church translates to “Our Lady of Heights”, using the name of the previous Chapel dedicated to the Holy Lady, which was estimated to have been built in the early Middle Ages. This Roman Catholic chapel is made out of concrete but the walls have a hand-finish which gives it a sense of weightlessness. This enhances the ethereal feel of the church interior as the simplicity has a calming and peaceful effect. The finish on the walls gives the church a sense of purity. The Chapel has a relatively simple design, consisting of only two entrances, one altar and three chapels situated beneath the towers, which contrasts other Catholic churches and chapels which are usually heavily decorated. However, the simplicity doesn’t take away the striking effect that the Chapel has from both the outside and the inside. The sparse interior is connected to the outside via the slightly raised roof and natural light from the many small windows which pierce the darkness. This gives the chapel a natural, almost earthy feel, enhanced by the smooth curves and lack of sharp edges, which could be inspired by the idea that God shows himself through nature, and the connection with nature is like a connection with God. It also gives the interior a mountain cave impression, again connecting us with nature. The exterior is more sculptural which shows status as creating the moulds for the concrete and engineering involved in the overall structure is a difficult thing to construct. This shows the dedication to Catholicism and God. The roof contrasts greatly with the rest of the building. I interpret it as looking almost like a boat, in a way resembling Noah’s Ark as the roof has an almost wooden feel and the natural curves are like that of a boat. This could represent that it is a place of sanctuary and safety. Le Corbusier alternatively, wanted the roof to resemble a shell so when your inside you get the feeling of being protected, it was also inspired by the strength and resilience of a crab’s shell. The Chapel has three towers, which are important as it means that the building is closer to Heaven increasing the spiritual sensation of the Notre Dame du Haut. ~photos from internet