Notre Dame du Haut

Notre Dame du Haut

General Description
Located near Ronchamp, France, Notre-Dame-du- Haut sits atop a hill that has been a pilgrimage site since the thirteenth century. Though the parish population is small, thousands of visitors come every year on important feast days. The original structure was destroyed by German army bombs in the fall of 1944. Le Corbusier started on the rebuilding project in 1950. The new building was to have a few difficult requirements: able to serve a parish of about 200, but also capable of dealing with the huge crowds on feast days.
Architectural Design
The structure is made mostly of concrete and is comparatively small. The interior walls are white and the ceiling grey. The floor of the chapel follows the natural slope of the hill down towards the altar. The interior of Notre-Dame-du- Haut has an open use of light. The main source of interior light is the south wall, which contains many windows of different sizes. These windows direct rays of light on the altar during Mass. Light is also constantly bathing the Virgin Mary in its alcove. Most dramatic is the tiny slit of light between the top of the wall and the roof, which gives a ‘halo’ effect.
Harmony with Nature
Whereas most churches have the task of shaping out a sacred space in the midst of the hectic, irreverent world, the hill at Ronchamp is a sacred location already outlined by topography. Because the structure is atop a hill, the religious journey starts when one begins the climb to the church.
Symbolism and Sacred Objects
Notre-Dame-du-Haut is not a traditional church. Instead of portraits of biblical stories, the church uses more abstract symbols of religion. The way the light from the windows combines with the color from the glass it is as though one can feel the Holy Spirit. The shapes of the building are also non-traditional, but do come from characteristics of Christianity.
How it is used by Worshippers
Usually there are few people worshipping, but because it is a pilgrimage chapel huge crowds will show up on feast days. In order to accommodate these large crowds, Le Corbusier also built an outside altar and pulpit, so the people can sit or stand on a vast field on the top of the hill. From the ruins of the chapel destroyed during WWII, a statue of the Virgin was rescued. It is now enclosed in a special glass case in the wall, and it can be turned to face inward when the congregation is inside, or to face outward toward the huge crowds.

Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_du_Haut
http://www.arch.mcgill.ca/prof/mellin/arch671/winter2000/mchan/precedents/corbu.html