In modernist architecture, promenade architecturale emerged as a key design strategy, embodying the principles of functionality, aesthetics, and integration with the urban context. Le Corbusier’s iconic projects, such as Villa La Roche (1925) and Villa Savoye (1929), exemplify this idea by guiding visitors through an ascending journey that culminates in the rooftop garden—a space where the building and nature seamlessly interact. A century later, this concept remains influential, continuing to shape contemporary designs that explore the relationship between movement and space in various architectural typologies, including houses, museums, libraries, and parks.
Le Corbusier’s focus on the relationship between time and architecture led him to create the term promenade architecturale, referring to the experience of moving through a built environment. The intention was for users to engage with architecture through a journey, offering multiple perspectives and emphasizing all architectural elements, as if following instructions to understand the work. The promenade begins at the building's entrance and unfolds as a path to be experienced by the body, gradually revealing the architectural richness of the structure. This approach fosters a dynamic and sensory spatial experience, where the full impact of the journey exceeds the sum of the individual perceptions formed by isolated elements of the building.
