Ben Carson Models Office Renovation on Le Corbusier's Radiant City

Secretary Ben Carson has modeled a renovation of his office at U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on the example of Le Corbusier's "Radiant City" concept, which inspired decades of slum clearing and public housing projects, most infamously by Robert Moses in New York City and in St. Louis at the Pruitt-Igoe public housing project.

"When I started this job, I didn't realize who Le Corbusier or Robert Moses were," Secretary Carson told reporters recently at a wine and cheese open house meant to preview the renovation of his office. "Now I know that Robert Moses co-opted Le Corbusier's ideas in a misguided and failed effort to provide supportive housing to the poor. Le Corbusier never intended his Radiant City concept to become the foundation for a public housing program."

Carson concluded by telling reporters that he wanted to make it clear that, like Le Corbusier's original intent for the Radiant City, he did not intend his office to become the foundation for a public housing program.

Carson did not respond to questions about the cost of the renovations or the unintended consequences of Le Corbusier's influence on his office.