Contracting agreement for the Saint-Pierre de Firminy-Vert Church project

Details of the contracting process to award a mandate to build the Saint-Pierre de Firminy-Vert Church, between 1960 and 1963, portray a breakdown of dialogue and correspondence between Le Corbusier and his clients. This meant there were several different versions of the project, as well as economic and administrative difficulties, which in turn prolonged the time taken to sign the contract. This paper outlines the mandate’s most important details, which are of vital importance in understanding the dichotomy that existed between the undertaking of the project and the process of contracting the Le Corbusier building. It is paramount to have an understanding of these facts before describing any part of the project itself. In the Le Corbusier Foundation a full dossier is stored on the Saint-Pierre de Firminy-Vert Church project. By using this primary source, a full analysis of the project undertaken can be completed, with a main focus on the methodology, which will in turn allow an understanding and reconstruction of the facts.