Le Corbusier Biography
Le Corbusier was a Swiss-born French architect, who was also famous for his painting talents. Go
through this biography to learn more about this talented artist’s profile, childhood, life and timeline.
Quick Facts
Famous as Architect
Nationality Swiss, French
Born on 06 October 1887 AD
Zodiac Sign Libra
Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds
Died on 27 August 1965 AD
Place of death Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Spouse Yvonne Gallis
Awards 1961 - Frank P. Brown Medal
1961 - AIA Gold Medal
Born in Switzerland, Le Corbusier was a celebrated architect, painter, urban planner and designer par
excellence. One of the forerunners in the field of modern architecture, this talented artist used both
reinforced concrete and steel for his constructions. Besides, he was very famous for his use of elemental
geometric forms in building construction. This versatile architect’s works are characterised by
understandable structures and forms. He introduced the five points of architecture in his books, and
followed them closely to create wonderful pieces of architecture that are still revered as masterpieces
today. In addition, he devised a scale of proportions known as the ‘Modulor’. It is based on the famed
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golden ratio and human measurements. Beginning his colourful career in his father’s footsteps as a
watchmaker, this artist cum architect travelled far and wide to learn the various dimensions of art and
architecture. His masterpieces adorn every corner of the globe including India, America and Europe.
Besides being an urban planner, he was bent upon improving the living conditions of people in crowded
cities. He later converted to a French citizen and passed away in France. To know the details of this
personality’s early years, career and personal life, continue reading.
Childhood & Early Life:
Le Corbusier was born to Edouard Jeanneret and Madame Jeannerct-Perrct in the Swiss town of
La Chaux-de-Fonds. Named Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris at birth, he was the couple’s
second son.
When he was 13, this celebrated architect joined the town’s Art School. Here he learnt a few
essential skills of the watchmaking industry like engraving and enamelling.
In the Art School, Le Corbusier was tutored by L’Eplattenier in art history, drawing and
aesthetics of art nouveau. Naturally, he opted for art over watchmaking, with the intention of
becoming a painter. His teacher also insisted that he study architecture.
Career:
Corbusier became involved in local projects, and designed his first house in 1907. After this, he
chose to tour places like Italy, Munich, Vienna and Paris, where he took up apprenticeships with
famous architects and structural rationalists such as Peter Behrens and Auguste Perret.
This exposure to different forms of architecture in 1910 and 1911, later helped Le Corbusier
come up with a number of key architectural findings such as the five points of architecture. He
observed the differences between huge collective spaces and separate compartmentalised areas.
He devised a new system of measurement known as the ‘Modulor’. The Fibonacci series, the
golden ratio and other important concepts formed the basis of the Modulor.
In 1912, he came back to the city where he was born and turned to teaching. It was here that he
started to design villas decided to seriously pursue architecture.
The architect-painter moved to Paris in 1917, and worked as an architect on concrete structure
under government contracts. However, his inclination then was more towards painting.
In 1918, Le Corbusier met the renowned painter Amedee Ozenfant. They both came out with a
book ‘Apres les cubisme’ in which they dealt with a new anti-cubism artistic movement called,
‘Purism’.
In 1920, they joined Paul Dermee to publish a journal dealing with purist art titled, ‘L’Esprit
Nouveau’. Subsequently, Charles-Edouard Jeanneret adopted the more famous name Le
Corbusier.
In 1923, he published ‘Vers une Architecture’ as a compilation of his writing from the ultra-
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modern journal he published in 1920.
In 1928, he forayed into the field of furniture designing too.
The architect-painter moved on to urban planning, and designed a number of buildings based on
his views on urbanism. He expanded his ideas on urbanism and brought out a book titled, ‘La
Ville radieuse’, in 1935.
In the 1950s, the gifted architect planned and constructed a number of administrative buildings in
the then-newly formed Union Territory of Chandigarh, in India.
Major Works:
The gifted designer built ‘Villa Savoye’ in the French capital Paris, between 1929 and 1931.
This work of art is the best example to elucidate his famed five points of architecture.
The Open Hand Monument that he designed to signify peace can be found in Chandigarh, India.
It is the largest one that he constructed and is 28 m high.
He also constructed Villa Jeanneret in Paris, where the Fondation Le Corbusier and archives are
currently located.
Awards & Achievements:
In 1937, he was the recipient of the Chevalier de la Lgion d’Honneur from the French
government.
In 1955, he received an honorary doctoral degree from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
in Zurich.
‘Fondation Le Corbusier’ was established in 1968 to honour the life and works of this great
architect. It is a private foundation cum archive, housing a huge collection of his drawings, plans
and studies.
Personal Life & Legacy:
The celebrated architect got married to the dressmaker-model, Yvonne Gallis in 1930. The
couple remain married till Yvonne's death in 1957.
He is also said to have an extramarital relationship with the heiress, Marguerite Tjader Harris.
Corbusier died on August 27, 1965 when he went for a swim in the Mediterranean Sea against
the advice of his doctor.
Trivia:
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This brilliant painter-architect’s father was employed in the watchmaking industry, while his
mother was a musician and a piano teacher.
This great architect reinvented himself by altering his maternal grandfather’s name and adopting
it as his pseudonym.
Quotes By Le Corbusier
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