Le Corbusier (born Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris) was born October 6, 1887, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. He became one of the most influential figures of 20th century architecture, working across buildings, urban plans, writing, and design. After establishing a practice in Paris, he pushed a new architectural language centered on proportion, light, structure, and modern life, arguing that design should respond to the realities of industry and mass housing.
His best-known works include Villa Savoye, the chapel at Ronchamp (Notre-Dame du Haut), and the Unite d'Habitation, along with major planning and civic projects such as Chandigarh in India. He also shaped the design conversation through publishing and advocacy, including founding the magazine L'Esprit Nouveau. Le Corbusier died August 27, 1965, in Cap Martin, France, after a heart attack while swimming.
