Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier (1887–1965), born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, was a pioneering architect, designer, urban planner, and writer whose radical ideas reshaped the built environment of the 20th century. A naturalised French citizen, he is best known for his influential contributions to modern architecture and his role in developing the International Style.

Le Corbusier’s architectural philosophy was grounded in functionality, rationalism, and a belief in architecture as a tool for social progress. He famously formulated the “Five Points of Architecture,” which included pilotis (supporting columns), flat roofs, open floor plans, horizontal windows, and free façades. These principles were exemplified in iconic works such as the Villa Savoye (1929–31) near Paris and the Unité d’Habitation (1947–52) in Marseille. His urban planning vision, including the controversial Plan Voisin for Paris, proposed high-density housing and vast green spaces, influencing city planning worldwide.

Beyond architecture, Le Corbusier was a prolific painter and designer. He collaborated with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand on furniture that combined industrial materials with elegant forms, such as the LC4 Chaise Longue. His paintings, often signed “L-C,” explored purist abstraction and were integral to his broader aesthetic vision.

Le Corbusier’s work is held in major collections including the Centre Pompidou (Paris), MoMA (New York), and the Fondation Le Corbusier (Paris). In 2016, seventeen of his architectural works across seven countries were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.