Le Corbusier’s Four Compositions’ Promotion of Wellbeing and Meaning

The architect Le Corbusier's "Four Compositions" outlined in his Oeuvre Complete provides a flexible platform that allows for a range of design options to promote wellbeing.Like a biological stem cell, his compositions can advance multiple wellbeing elements found in the emerging field of Positive Psychology where positive emotions, engagement, relationships, and meaning play a critical role.Using the visual analysis method, this paper examines his compositions for their relevance in today's more complex demands for wellbeing.Three of four of Le Corbusier's preferred compositions provide a flexible system to foster healthy outdoor and near-outdoor spaces that can generate: (1) greater levels of thermal and visual comfort, (2) higher qualities of daylight and fresh air, (3) more opportunities to engage with stress-reducing nature, (4) more opportunities for social engagements and, (5) more opportunities for the building to express a virtuous meaning.For these reasons, this may explain why three of his preferred compositions keep expressing themselves in today's designs.The author will examine a selection of Corbus's late architecture in the 1950's and 1960's and more recent buildings that utilized Corbu's "Four Compositions" to promote overall wellbeing for which virtuous meaning plays a critical part.