Le Corbusier (1887-1965) was a Swiss-French architect, designer, and urban planner, a towering figure in 20th-century modern architecture. He championed functionalism, rationalism, and geometric forms, famously stating "a house is a machine for living in." He pioneered reinforced concrete and outlined his "Five Points of a New Architecture" (pilotis, open plan, free façade, horizontal windows, roof garden), exemplified by the Villa Savoye.

Later, his work included large-scale urban planning, like Chandigarh, India, and the Unité d'Habitation. His style evolved, seen in the more sculptural Notre Dame du Haut chapel in Ronchamp. Le Corbusier's theories and designs profoundly influenced modern architecture globally.