Le Corbusier

Swiss-French architect, designer, urbanist, and writer (1886–1965)

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Fame86.9
Momentum11.3
Global rank#142
Switzerland rank#2
Architects rank#1
Wikipedia80.4K

Lived 1887–1965, aged 78Switzerland

Switzerland

ArchitectsArchitect

Wikipedia
175 languages
Cross-language footprint
Global rank
#142
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Era
1887–1965
Aged 78
Known for
Sous les apparences
2021

Summary

Updated 2026-08-29

He flattened ornament, lifted buildings on stilts, and believed a house should be "a machine for living in" — ideas that turned half the skyline of the 20th century into concrete slabs and open plans, for better and worse.

Biography

About

Charles-Édouard Jeanneret was born in Switzerland in 1887, acquired French nationality in 1930, and spent five decades designing buildings across Europe, Japan, India, and the Americas under the name Le Corbusier. Dedicated to easing crowded city life, he became a founding member of the Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne and prepared the master plan for Chandigarh, India, contributing designs for its government buildings. In 2016, seventeen of his projects in seven countries were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their contribution to the Modern Movement. His urban planni…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier

said1959

The city of Chandigarh is planned to human scale. It puts us in touch with the infinite cosmos and nature.

— "The Edict of Chandigarh," 1959

Le Corbusier

said1959

Vehicular traffic is completely forbidden in the green strips, where tranquility shall reign and the curse of noise shall not penetrate.

— "The Edict of Chandigarh," 1959

Le Corbusier

said1959

The age of personal statues is gone. No personal statues shall be erected in the city or parks of Chandigarh. The city is planned to breathe the new sublimated spirit of art.

— "The Edict of Chandigarh," 1959

Le Corbusier

said1959