Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier was a Swiss-born French architect, urban planner, designer, painter and writer who became one of the most influential figures in modern architecture.

Le Corbusier was a Swiss-born French architect, urban planner, designer, painter and writer who became one of the most influential figures in modern architecture. His work helped define the International Style and included major buildings, urban plans and theoretical writings that shaped 20th-century design. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern architecture and the International Style.

Early life and background

Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, in 1887, he began life as Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris. He later became a French citizen and worked mainly in Paris, while maintaining an international practice.

Architectural approach

Le Corbusier advocated functional planning, standardized forms and modern materials, especially concrete. His work combined rationalist ideas with sculptural expression, making him central to twentieth-century modern architecture.

Major works and projects

His most famous works include Villa Savoye, the Unité d’Habitation in Marseille, the chapel at Notre Dame du Haut, and the urban plan for Chandigarh. His unbuilt Maison Dom-Ino concept also became highly influential in housing design.

Writing and theory

Beyond building, he was a prolific writer whose books and essays circulated his ideas widely. *Toward a New Architecture* became especially important in defining modernist architectural thinking.

Legacy

Le Corbusier’s ideas influenced architects, planners and designers around the world. His buildings and writings remain key reference points in the history of modern architecture.