The French Ministry of Culture has defended its support for a museum dedicated to the Swiss-French architect despite his links to the Vichy regime.
A Le Corbusier museum project has triggered controversy in France. Last week a group of intellectuals protested against this tributeExternal link to the famous architect. In an article in the Le Monde paper, nine signatories accused the Ministry of complicity in the rehabilitation of a man who was complicit of fascism and antisemitism.
On Monday, the French Ministry of Culture defended the “exceptional nature” of Le Corbusier’s work. It refused to comment on the accusations levelled against the architect preferring to leave it to historians to handle “the legitimate debate” on his complicity with the Vichy regime.
France, the ministry reiterated, had supported, with six other countries, the inscription of Le Corbusier’s work into the World Heritage List in 2016 even though such accusations revealed by several books had already been controversial in 2015.
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Le Corbusier’s works listed among UNESCO World Heritage sites
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UNESCO added the architectural works of Le CorbusierExternal link – buildings in Switzerland, France, India and Argentina, among others – at the 40th session of the body’s World Heritage Committee on Sunday. An image of Le Corbusier – his horn-rimmed glasses raised to his forehead – has adorned the Swiss ten-franc note since 1997. “A…
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Swiss minister talks crime and security in visit to the Netherlands
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Lilo Baur wins Swiss Grand Prix for performing arts
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The Swiss actress and theatre director Lilo Baur has received this year's Swiss Grand Prix for Performing Arts, also known as the Hans Reinhart Ring.
Court rules al-Qaeda supporter can stay in Switzerland
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Swiss woman accuses Donald Trump of sexual assault
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A former Miss Switzerland candidate has accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in New York in 1993. The US Republican candidate’s campaign team has denied the accusations.
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Le Corbusier: unravelling the myth
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The 50th anniversary of Le Corbusier's death has sparked a huge controversy in France about his relationship with the Vichy regime. Three new books cast a harsh light on this Franco-Swiss architect, while an exhibition at the Pompidou Centre turns a blind eye to his darker side.
Neuchâtel renames ‘Louis Agassiz Street’ over racism concerns
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The city has renamed the Espace Louis-Agassiz, a street in the university district, to distance itself from the famous Swiss-American glaciologist.
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