Le Corbusier was one of the world’s most famous architects, as well as one of the most well-known Swiss in history. Born in 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Charles-Edouard-Jeanneret-Gris became known as one of the geniuses of avant-garde who drove the modernism movement of the 20th century. August 27, 2015 is the 50th anniversary of his death.
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Studied history and politics at University of Bern. Worked at Reuters, the newspapers Der Bund and Berner Zeitung, and the Förderband radio station. I am concerned with the Swiss practice of modern direct democracy in all its aspects and at all levels, my constant focus being the citizen.
The Neuchâtel native, who became a French citizen in 1930, had an international reputation as a theoretician of architecture, urbanist and artist. His furniture projects, produced in collaboration with Charlotte Perriand and his cousin, Pierre Jeanneret, are some of the great classics of the history of design, and are still made today.
Out of a desire to improve human well-being, Le Corbusier focused on functional “machines for living” adapted to the new lifestyle of the modern era, rather than than luxurious palaces for the privileged. He did not measure the quality of a living space in square footage, or by the number of bathrooms, but rather by an exacting conception of layout and movement within a space that maximised its effectiveness.
Like other visionaries, Le Corbusier’s life was marked by a controversy – one that persists to this day. His plans for a “Radiant City” were described as totalitarian by critics. The debate has intensified in the last few years, with discovery of his links with officials of Vichy France as well as anti-Semitic remarks revealed by his correspondence.
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Le Corbusier still a key figure for young architects
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Le Corbusier, Herzog & De Meuron, Mario Botta and Peter Zumthor – to mention only the most prominent names – have put Swiss architecture on the world map. The younger generation has not yet achieved the same celebrity, but it is striking out in new directions of its own. For the 125th anniversary of the…
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The architect, city planner, designer and painter from La-Chaux-de-Fonds died 50 years ago. The exhibition reflects the continuity of his approach, with a look at his painted, sculpted and architectural pieces. One room presents 50 of his drawings, another section is dedicated to publications and to Le Corbusier’s first villas. Le Corbusier’s idealism was reflected…
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The 50th anniversary of Le Corbusier's death has sparked a huge controversy in France about his relationship with the Vichy regime. Three new books cast a harsh light on this Franco-Swiss architect, while an exhibition at the Pompidou Centre turns a blind eye to his darker side.
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Can Chandigarh, where Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier fully realised his modernist vision, provide the template for India’s future urban growth?
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Not only has the country produced several noteworthy architects of its own, it has also attracted several foreign big names. But the country’s small size and lack of large projects have resulted in many Swiss architects seeking work abroad. Architects in history The most illustrious of these architects before the 20th century was Francesco Borromini,…
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Despite being home to 11 World Heritage sites, the Swiss don’t grasp the full extent of this cultural richness and the special conservation efforts needed, warns a Swiss UNESCO official.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.