Which of the following is NOT a characteristic associated with Le Corbusier's early modernist design?

• A. Pilotis
• B. Ribbon windows
• C. Free plan
• D. Heavy decorative detailing and ornate ornament

Answer: (D)

Le Corbusier's early modernist architecture focuses on structural clarity, open spaces, and minimal adornment. The idea is to reveal how a building stands and how it can be used, rather than hide those aspects with decoration. Pilotis—the vertical supports that raise the building above ground—free the ground plane for landscape and circulation and mark a new separation between structure and façade. Ribbon windows, long horizontal bands of glass, bring abundant light and unify the exterior with the interior through a continuous, legible line. A free plan arises from a non-load-bearing interior wall system, allowing flexible, open layouts that can be rearranged as needed. In contrast, heavy decorative detailing and ornate ornament run counter to this restrained, honest approach and were not part of his modernist vocabulary.