The Chapel of Ronchamp, southeast of Paris, is home to one of the most unusual works of Le Corbusier's career -- the Notre Dame Cathedral, or more commonly known as the Palace of Ronchamp. In 1950, Le Corbusier was asked to design a new Catholic church to replace the one destroyed during World War II. The remains of Roncham Church have long been a religious pilgrimage site with deep roots in Catholic traditions, but after World War II, the church wanted a pure space, free of lavish details and ornate religious figures, unlike its predecessor.

The Church of Ronchamp looks modern, but it doesn't seem to be part of Le Corbusier's aesthetics, or even part of the international style. Rather, it sits as a sculptural object on the site. The inability to categorize Ronchamp architecture makes it one of the most important religious buildings of the 20th century, and it is also the career of Le Corbusier.

Church reformers wanted to purge their decadent and decorative past reputation by embracing modern art and architecture. The purity of space is one of Corbusier's main concerns. He does not make the project too complex, nor does he remove typical modern aesthetics from the design. On the contrary, Le Corbusier hoped that this space would have the purpose of meditation and reflection. The pure white walls add to this purist mentality, and when the light enters the church, it becomes this clean, ethereal atmosphere. The effect of light evokes expressive and emotional qualities, creating a heightened sense of alignment with religious activity.