In this presentation drawing, Le Corbusier contrasts the city plan of Paris with his provocative proposal: narrow, winding streets should give way to wide, straight roads, and high-rises should be built far apart so that each apartment receives sufficient sunlight. Additionally, the space gained should be "green."

In this presentation drawing, Le Corbusier illustrates the claim that cities built over time take up too much space and are simultaneously too cramped. If the land were used efficiently, cities could become "green cities." Le Corbusier considered access to light, open spaces, and nature fundamental for a better life.

The image of the modern passenger steamer in this presentation drawing illustrates Le Corbusier’s vision of rational living. On a steamer, up to 2,500 people could live in a very small space. In the lowest sketch, the ship is ‘turned upright’ and transformed into a skyscraper. Le Corbusier, who travelled frequently, was enthusiastic about the possibilities of modern transportation, as the form of vehicles was a result of their function. 

In this sketch, Le Corbusier shows how ideas develop. Like a river that encounters obstacles and adjusts its course, ideas must also be adapted. Sometimes the obstacles are so great that the river forms loops that touch and connect. In this complex situation, a straight line suddenly appears again when the water has overcome the obstacles. Thus, the essence of the idea crystallises from an elaborate work process. Le Corbusier calls this "The Law of the Meander."

In this presentation drawing, Le Corbusier illustrates his utopian proposal for a "world museum." He envisioned a pyramid-shaped building that – like human knowledge – could be infinitely expanded. The project would include scientific institutions, a library, and a museum, serving as a repository for all human knowledge.

Le Corbusier often compared cities to the human body. He believed that urban interventions were needed to adapt historical cities to the needs of the present. Here, Le Corbusier demonstrates that a city can be ‘operated on.’ He starts with large cuts in the street layout, replacing small alleys with wide boulevards to optimise the city’s circulation.

This presentation drawing by Le Corbusier addresses the increasing acceleration and interconnectedness made possible by the technological advances of the industrial age. From 1850, speed increased dramatically in all areas of life. This brought about new needs that these cities, which had expanded over centuries, could not meet, including mobility, recreation, and the efficient organisation of everyday life.

In this presentation drawing, Le Corbusier argues that modern urbanism could only be implemented by abandoning existing street systems. The narrow streets of historical cities had to be eliminated. Le Corbusier proposed staggered rows of skyscrapers built far apart and independent of the street system. The streets would lead straight to their destinations, some of them running under elevated skyscrapers, which were built on pillars.

Le Corbusier travelled to North and South America and was fascinated by countries like the USA and Argentina, which were developing very dynamically. In this presentation drawing, he maps the flow of goods leaving from and arriving to New York and Buenos Aires. Both were large, modern cities. New York had emerged from improvisation. Conversely, Buenos Aires could still become a true modern city through large-scale urban planning.

Le Corbusier saw himself as a provocative counterweight to university teachings on architecture in his day. Although he had no formal training as an architect, he believed that the academy clung tightly to traditional and historical styles, hindering the development of modern architecture and urban planning. His provocative proposals to replace parts of Paris with skyscrapers were widely rejected. He blamed it on "academicism," proclaiming: "L’académisme dit non!"