What does 'free façade' mean in Le Corbusier's principles?

• A. The façade is independent of structural system and can be redesigned without altering the frame.
• B. The façade must be a glass curtain wall.
• C. The façade must have no openings.
• D. The façade is identical to the floor plan.

Answer: (D)

Free façade means the exterior wall is not part of the building’s structural system; the frame carries the loads, often via pilotis, so the façade can be designed independently and even redesigned without altering the structural frame. This is the best description because it captures how Le Corbusier separates the wall from the structure, giving freedom in exterior treatment, openings, and materials without being constrained by the frame. The notion of a glass curtain wall, having no openings, or being identical to the floor plan don’t describe that separation between wall and structure. The exterior can accommodate openings and a variety of treatments without being bound to the interior structural layout, which is the essence of the free façade.