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Professor Tim Benton

Profile summary

  • Professor Emeritus of Art History
  • Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
  • Art History
  • tim.benton

Professional biography

Tim Benton is Professor Emeritus of Art History at the Open University.  In 2008 he was visiting Professor in the Department of Art History and Archaeology, Columbia University. In 2009 he was the Robert Sterling Clark Visiting Professor of Art History at Williams College, Massachussetts. From 2010, he was visiting Professor at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

Research interests

His research interests include Le Corbusier’s work of the 1920s and 1930s and the history of modern architecture and design. For several years he has been working on Le Corbusier’s domestic architectural designs (1914-1935) which includes a study of all the architectural drawings and documents associated with these projects. He has developed computer software for the analysis of architectural drawings as part of this research. He contributed to two major exhibitions at the V&A: Art Deco 1910-1939 (2003) and Modernism Designing a new world (2006) and to the first major retrospective exhibition of the work of Charlotte Perriand at the Pompidou Centre, Paris (2006). Research into Le Corbusier’s photography led to his contribution of a room to the exhibition ‘Construire l’image: Le Corbusier et la photographie’ at the Musée des Beaux Arts, La Chaux-de-Fonds, with a chapter in the catalogue and, a year later, a single-authored book. In 2014 he contributed a room on Le Corbusier and the Mediterranean to the exhibition Domus Mare Nostrum at the Hôtel des Arts de Toulon, with a chapter in the catalogue. He is preparing an exhibition on Art Deco at the Fondation March, Madrid, 2015. He has also worked on Italian architecture and design in the 1920s and 1930s.

His classic study of the design of Le Corbusier’s Villas in Paris in the 1920s was republished in a revised French edition by Editions de La Villette and in English by Birkhäuser: The Villas of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret 1920-1930 (2007). His book Le Corbusier conférencier was published in French by Editions Le Moniteur, Paris (2007) and issued in English by Birkhäuser in 2008. This is a major study of the rhetorical methods used by Le Corbusier in the lectures with which spread his ideas across the world, using previously unpublished manuscripts, sketches and photographs.

He is currently working on a life of Le Corbusier (Reaktion Books) and a book on Le Corbusier’s domestic architecture (1910-1935). He is directing a series of three volumes of all the texts, drafts, drawings and critiques of Le Corbusier’s lectures for the Fondation Le Corbusier, Paris.

Teaching interests

At the Open University, he was responsible for introducing a curriculum strand on heritage studies, beginning with an online short course (A180) in 2008, followed by a second level course  Understanding global heritage (AD281) in 2009. He contributed a chapter on the history of modern architecture and design to Exploring art and visual culture (A226) .

Publications

Eileen Gray and Jean Badovici at Vézelay (2023-12)
Benton, Tim
Journal of Design History, 36(4) (pp. 340-360)

Milieu, spirit, flesh and fusion in Le Corbusier’s life and work (2021)
Benton, Tim
ZARCH(17) (pp. 12-41)

E-1027 and the «drôle de guerre» (2018)
Benton, Tim
Rassegna di architettura e urbanistica(153) (pp. 46-61)

Review: Pride in modesty: modernist architecture and the vernacular tradition in Italy by Michelangelo Sabatino (2010-12)
Benton, Tim
Harvard Design Magazine, 33 (pp. 141-144)

New books on Le Corbusier (2009-09)
Benton, Tim
Journal of Design History, 22(3) (pp. 271-284)

The complexities and contradicitions of modernism (2008-10)
Benton, Tim
Positions, 0 (pp. 16-21)

Humanism and fascism (2001-10)
Benton, Tim
Comparative Criticism: An Annual Journal, 23 (pp. 69-115)

The painter Le Corbusier; Eileen Gray's villa E1027 and le Cabanon (2023)
Benton, Tim
ISBN : 978-3-0356-2653-7 | Publisher : Birkhauser | Published : Berlin

Le Corbusier Peintre a Cap Martin (2015)
Benton, Tim
ISBN : 9782757704738 | Publisher : Editions du Patrimoine | Published : Paris

Lc Foto : Le Corbusier : Secret Photographer (2013)
Benton, Tim
ISBN : 9783037783443 | Publisher : Lars Müller | Published : Zurich

Le Corbusier's Pavilion for Zurich: Model and Prototype of an Ideal Exhibition Space (2012)
Dumont D'Ayot, Catherine and Benton, Tim
ISBN : 978-3-03778-305-4 (English version) | Publisher : Lars Muller Verlag | Published : Ennetbaden

The Rhetoric of Modernism: Le Corbusier as Lecturer (2009)
Benton, Tim
ISBN : I9783764389444 | Publisher : Birkhäuser Publications | Published : Basel

Le Corbusier le Grand (2008-07-02)
Benton, Tim; Cohen, Jean-Louis and Phaidon Editors,
ISBN : 9780714846682 | Publisher : Phaidon | Published : London

Le Corbusier the Great (2008)
Cohen, Jean-Louis and Benton, Tim
ISBN : 9780714846682 | Publisher : Phaidon | Published : London/New York

Le Corbusier conférencier (2007-11)
Benton, Tim
ISBN : 978-2-281-19250-6 | Publisher : Editions Le Moniteur | Published : Paris, France

The Villas of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret 1920-1930 (2007)
Benton, Tim
ISBN : 978-3-7643-8406-7 | Publisher : Birkhauser | Published : Basel, Switzerland

The Modernist Home (2006-05-01)
Benton, Tim
ISBN : 1851774769 | Publisher : Victoria and Albert Museum | Published : London

E-1027 and the Drôle De Guerre (2017-06)
Benton, Tim
In: Weaver, Thomas ed. AA Files (pp. 123-143)
ISBN : 9781907896835 | Publisher : Architectural Association

Le Corbusier et la Méditerranée (2014-05)
Benton, Tim
In: Bonillo, Jean-Lucien ed. Domus Mare Nostrum (pp. 23-33)
ISBN : 978-2-913959-55-2 | Publisher : Hemisud for Conseil General du Var | Published : Toulon

Dom-Ino and the Phantom Pilotis (2014)
Benton, Tim
In: Weaver, Thomas ed. AA Files. AA Files (69) (pp. 13-37)
ISBN : 9781907896644 | Publisher : Architectural Association | Published : London

E1027, une icône de la modernité des années 1920 (2013-03-07)
Benton, Tim
In: Prélorenzo, Claude ed. Eileen Gray, L'Etoile de Mer, Le Corbusier: Trois Aventures en Méditerrannée (pp. 67-76)
ISBN : 978-2-35733-232-4 | Publisher : Archibooks | Published : Paris

Atlantic Coast: nature as inspiration (2013)
Benton, Tim
In: Cohen, Jean-Louis ed. Le Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscapes (pp. 162-167)
ISBN : 9780870708510 | Publisher : Museum of Modern Art | Published : New York

Marseille: Unité d'habitation or "The company of clouds, the sky, or the stars" (2013)
Benton, Tim
In: Cohen, Jean-Louis ed. Le Corbusier: an Atlas of Modern Landscapes (pp. 201-211)
ISBN : 9780870708510 | Publisher : Museum of Modern Art | Published : New York

Les peintures murales (2013)
Benton, Tim
In: Prélorenzo, Claude ed. Eileen Gray, L'Etoile de Mer, Le Corbusier: Trois Aventures en Méditerranée (pp. 122-133)
ISBN : 9782357332324 | Publisher : Archibooks | Published : Paris

La maison La Roche et les ateliers d'artistes de Le Corbusier (2012)
Benton, Tim
In: Torres Cueco, Jorge ed. Le Corbusier Mise au Point (pp. 8-33)
ISBN : 978-84-939845-2-6 | Publisher : Memorias Culturales | Published : Valencia

Funktionnel (HO) (2012)
Benton, Tim
In: Torres Cueco, Jorge ed. Le Corbusier Mise au Point (pp. 227-242)
ISBN : 978-84-939845-2-6 | Publisher : Memorias Culturales

Art Deco and Japonisme (2012)
Benton, Tim
In: Brown, Kendall H. ed. Deco Japan: Shaping Modern Culture 1920-1945 (pp. 25-34)
ISBN : 9780883971574 | Publisher : Art Services International | Published : Alexandria, VA, USA

La maison La Roche et les ateliers d’artistes de Le Corbusier (2012)
Benton, Tim
In: Torres, Jorge ed. Le Corbusier Mise au Point. Memorias culturales (pp. 10-35)
ISBN : 978-84-939845-2-6 | Publisher : General de Ediciones de la Arquitectura | Published : Valencia

Funktionnel (2012)
Benton, Tim
In: Torres, Jorge ed. Le Corbusier Mise au Point.. Memorias Culturales (pp. 253-268)
ISBN : 978-84-939845-2-6 | Publisher : General de Ediciones de Arquitectura | Published : Valencia

The miracle of Le Corbusier's roof terrace (2012)
Benton, Tim
In: Gargiani, Roberto ed. L'Architrave, le Plancher, la Plate-forme: Nouvelle Histoire de la Construction (pp. 710-718)
ISBN : 978-2-88074-893-7 | Publisher : Presses Polytechniques et Universitaires Romandes | Published : Lausanne

La rhétorique de la vérité: Le Corbusier à Alger (2012)
Benton, Tim
In: Bonillo, Jean-Lucien ed. Le Corbusier, Visions d'Alger. Les Rencontres de la Fondation Le Corbusier (pp. 172-187)
ISBN : 978-2-915456-29-5 | Publisher : Editions de La Villette | Published : Paris

Le Corbusier's secret photographs (2012)
Benton, Tim
In: Herschdorfer, Natalie and Umstatter, Lada eds. Le Corbusier and the Power of Photography (pp. 30-55)
ISBN : 978-0-500-544228 | Publisher : Thames and Hudson | Published : London

The Villa de Mandrot and the place of the imagination (2011)
Benton, Tim
In: Richard, Michel ed. Massilia 2011. Annuaire d'Études Corbuséennes (pp. 92-105)
ISBN : 978-2-919230-037 | Publisher : Editions Imbernon | Published : Marseilles

Le Corbusier e il vernacolare: Le Sextant a Les Mathes 1935 (2010)
Benton, Tim
In: Canziani, Andrea ed. Le Case per artisti sull'Isola Comacina. Quaderni fondation montandon (pp. 22-43)
ISBN : 978-88-7185-181-5 | Publisher : NodoLibri | Published : Como

Il concorso per il palazzo del Littorio, 1934-1937 (2010)
Benton, Tim
In: Reichlin, Bruno and Tedeschi, Letizia eds. Luigi Moretti Razionalismo e trasgressività tra barocco e informale
ISBN : 9788837075750 | Publisher : Electa | Published : Milan

Museum practice and heritage (2010)
Benton, Tim and Watson, Nicola
In: West, Susie ed. Understanding Heritage in Practice (pp. 127-165)
ISBN : 978-0-7190-8154-5 | Publisher : Manchester University Press | Published : Manchester

The art of the well-tempered lecture: Reyner Banham and Le Corbusier (2009-11)
Benton, Tim
In: Aynsley, Jeremy and Atkinson, Harriet eds. The Banham Lectures: Essays on Designing the Future (pp. 11-32)
ISBN : 9781847883025 | Publisher : Berg | Published : Oxford, UK and New York, USA

Modernism and nature (2006)
Benton, Tim
In: Wilk, Christopher ed. Modernism: designing a new world (pp. 311-339)
ISBN : 1851774742 | Publisher : Victoria and Albert Museum | Published : London

The Style and the Age (2003-09-17)
Benton, Tim and Benton, Charlotte
In: Benton, Tim; Benton, Charlotte and Woods, Ghislaine eds. Art Deco 1910-1939 (pp. 12-27)
ISBN : 082122834X | Publisher : Victoria and Albert Museum | Published : London, UK

Italian architecture and design (2003-09)
Benton, Tim
In: Benton, Charlotte; Benton, Tim and Woods, Ghislaine eds. Art Deco 1910-1939 (pp. 218-229)
ISBN : 082122834X | Publisher : Victoria and Albert Museum | Published : London, UK

Avant garde sources (2003)
Benton, Tim and Benton, Charlotte
In: Benton, Charlotte; Benton, Tim and Woods, Ghislaine eds. Art Deco 1910-1939 (pp. 244-259)
ISBN : 082122834X | Publisher : Victoria and Albert Museum | Published : London, UK

Decline and revival (2003)
Benton, Tim and Benton, Charlotte
In: Benton, Charlotte; Benton, Tim and Woods, Ghislaine eds. Art Deco 1910-1939 (pp. 426-429)
ISBN : 082122834X | Publisher : Victoria and Albert Museum | Published : London, UK

Modern Taste: Art Deco in Paris 1910-1935 (2015)
Benton, Tim; Fontan del Junco, Manuel and Zozaya, Maria eds.
ISBN : 9788470756290 | Publisher : Fundacion Juan March | Published : Madrid

Building Utopia (2006-03-28)
Benton, Tim
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK.

Art Deco architecture (2003-09)
Benton, Tim
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK.